Caesar Act does not dissent Russia – Israeli source

RAMALLAH, Palestine (North Press) – An Israeli source in Tel Aviv-Yafo said on Sunday that the US Caesar Act does not harm Russian expansion in Syria.

In an interview with North Press, the source stated that Russian entry into Syria in 2015 was done with the US administration's satisfaction, after Washington hinted that it wanted to pull out from northeast Syria partially, not completely.

Israeli political analyst Shaul Mansha said that Russia's presence in Syria does not worry the United States, but Iran's control over Syria is the most concerning.

He explained to North Press that Russia does not prevent Israeli raids against Iranian targets in Syria, and it appears that they are being carried out with Israeli-American-Russian coordination.

"Moscow is silent about the Israeli raids…which is a sign of satisfaction…the common goal is to keep Iran away from Syria, because the Russians do not want a double foreign presence by Turkey and Iran, but rather, they want to take over this country alone," he said.

But Mansha believes that the Act will not achieve the desired goal, because Iran, despite its poor status due to the sanctions and coronavirus, is trying to seize Middle Eastern countries and build a land bridge that runs from Iran to the Mediterranean coast.

The Caesar Act, also known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, became law in the United States in 2019. The Act entails a series of sanctions aimed at targeting the Syrian government and any individuals or states which aid it.

(Reporting by Ahmed Ismael, editing by Lucas Chapman)