For years, soldiers from Russia's Hmeimim Air Base in Syria roamed freely through coastal cities. War planes flew from the complex to bombard Islamist rebels fighting Bashar al-Assad's repressive regime.

Israel is actively pressuring the United States to maintain Russian military bases in Syria. This request is part of a larger strategy to keep Syria weak and prevent Turkey from increasing its influence in the region.

The source added that such an allegation is a lie made up by Israel "to cover up its plans regarding Syria after the fall of the Assad regime."

President Donald Trump on Monday alerted America's farmers to coming U.S. tariffs on "external product," telling them to get ready to sell their goods domestically.

Israel is lobbying the US to maintain Syria's weakness and Russian military bases in response to Turkey's growing influence in the region. This move is aimed at preventing a security threat to Israel from Islamist forces backed by Ankara,