Russia demands Iran remove its militias from Western Syria, amid increasing Israel airstrikes

Russia has demanded that Iran remove its forces and militias from areas in western Syria in order to avoid further airstrikes from neighbouring Israel, according to a report by Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Citing a source reportedly close to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, the outlet reported that in a meeting on Wednesday between three Russian officials and their Iranian counterparts at the Hama military airport, Moscow “demanded that the Iranians evacuate” their military positions near Hama and the coastal city of Tartous.