The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Tuesday that the United States will begin a gradual withdrawal from Syria in the coming months.
According to the newspaper, U.S. security officials have informed Israel’s military establishment that the withdrawal from Syria will commence within two months. Despite this, Israel is still pressuring Washington to delay the move.
Israel reportedly fears that Turkey will seize more strategic assets in Syria following the U.S. withdrawal. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced last Wednesday that his country is conducting technical-level talks with Israel to reduce tensions regarding Syria, though it is not moving toward normalization of relations.
Turkey is one of the main supporters of the Syrian faction alliance that successfully ousted Bashar al-Assad in December, following nearly 14 years of civil war.
Turkey’s growing influence in Syria has raised concerns in Israel, which has launched airstrikes and ground incursions to push Syrian government forces away from its borders.