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Source: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/fikraforum/view/could-assad-and-russia-expel-iran-from-syria
Could Assad and Russia Expel Iran from Syria?
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Omar Alradad - Due to an agreement recently reached with Russia, Israel can now launch air raids against Iranian bases in Syria as long as the Syrian Army is not targeted in these strikes. Israel is signaling that it would tacitly accept the continuance of the Assad regime if Assad works to remove Iranian forces from the country. In the long run, Iran poses a threat to Russia's military and political intentions in Syria. Whereas Moscow would prefer Syria to be a secular and federal state able to maintain its coastal military bases, Tehran is interested in expanding its regional influence through a sectarian Syrian state controlled by Iran's ideological counterparts. Therefore, Russia is likely to try to curtail Iran's influence in Syria. The writer is a former brig.-gen. in the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate.