Israeli think tank warns Russian-Syrian security ties could limit Israel’s freedom of action

An Israeli security think tank has warned that deepening security cooperation between Russia and Syria is not in Israel’s interest, arguing that an expanded Russian military presence could restrict Tel Aviv’s freedom of action in the regional arena.

In a report issued on Sunday, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) said the consolidation of Russian forces in Syria could limit Israeli manoeuvrability, even if Moscow’s influence does not return to the level it held during the years of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad.

The report said Russia is exploiting Israeli and Turkish concerns over shifting regional power dynamics to strengthen its foothold in Syria and the wider region.

It urged Israel to “abandon its reliance on Russia as a balancing force or regional mediator”, arguing that reducing Moscow’s influence over Israeli decision-making in Syria would require arrangements backed by actors more aligned with Israel’s interests — primarily the United States.

The assessment followed a meeting in Moscow late last month between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, during which the two leaders discussed the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria, bilateral relations and regional developments.

During the talks, al-Sharaa thanked Moscow for what he described as its “contribution to stabilising the situation in Syria and the region”, while Putin reiterated Russia’s support for Damascus’s efforts to “restore the unity of Syrian territory”.

The visit came amid reports of a partial Russian withdrawal from Qamishli Airport in eastern Syria, while Russian forces remain stationed in Tartus and at the Hmeimim airbase.

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