Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper revealed that Israel is working to strengthen its relations with Russia, in order to achieve a further goal, which is to curb Turkish influence in Syria.

The Israeli newspaper explained that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his military secretary, Roman Goffman, to Moscow in recent days to hold a series of security and diplomatic meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation with Russia, in order to "protect Israel's strategic interests."

Goffman, who returned from Moscow on Friday, is considered one of Netanyahu's closest advisers, and has carried out similar secret missions in other locations in recent weeks.

The newspaper says that Israel's position on Syria has become increasingly clear: it prefers Russian influence over a Turkish foothold, and is actively working to limit Ankara's influence over its neighbor.

On the other hand, Israel is also deeply concerned about “those who are strengthening their power in post-Assad Syria,” and whom Israel considers hostile to it.

Netanyahu has already stepped up pressure in this direction, publicly calling for the demilitarization of southern Syria.

According to Reuters, Israel is urging the United States to ensure that Syria remains "weak," including allowing Russia to maintain its military bases there to counter Turkey's efforts to form a security alliance with the new authorities in Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to host his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and their discussions are set to focus on establishing Turkish military bases, training the reconstituted Syrian armed forces, and securing the country's airspace, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israel views these developments as a direct threat to it and is working to thwart them, preferring the Russian presence in Syria to Turkish influence.

Following the fall of the Assad regime, Israeli forces penetrated a large distance into Syrian territory after the dissolved army withdrew from its bases.

During a graduation ceremony for Israeli army officers last week, Netanyahu reiterated the need for an Israeli military presence in key areas of Syria and Lebanon.

He said: "We demand the complete disarmament of the new regime forces in southern Syria, and we will also not tolerate any threats to the Druze population in southern Syria."

Netanyahu also announced that Israeli forces will remain stationed on Mount Hermon overlooking Damascus and the buffer zone for an indefinite period, in order to "protect Israeli communities and deter emerging threats," he said.

"We will not allow the forces of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (which led an offensive that toppled the Assad regime) or the New Syrian Army to enter the area south of Damascus," he continued.

Within 24 hours of Netanyahu's remarks, the Israeli military launched airstrikes on Syrian military sites, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz later confirmed the strikes, saying they were "part of our new policy of demilitarization in the region."

He added: "Our message is clear: We will not allow southern Syria to turn into another southern Lebanon. We will not put the security of our citizens at risk."

On Saturday evening, Katz threatened to intervene militarily in Syria "if the regime harms the Druze."

"We will not allow the extremist terrorist regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regime attacks the Druze, it will bear consequences from us. We have ordered the army to prepare and send a clear and strict warning: If the regime harms the Druze, we will harm it," Katz said in a statement issued by the Israeli Defense Ministry.

The statement referred in particular to the densely populated suburb of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, with a Christian and Druze majority, where one person was killed and nine others were injured on Saturday in clashes between Druze gunmen and members of the security forces affiliated with the new authorities, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Netanyahu and Katz ordered the Israeli army to "prepare to defend" the suburb.