Donald Trump, Khamenei

America has now started preparations to establish a military base in Syria’s capital Damascus. This step is not only a strategic step, but also a sign of increasing American pressure on Iran. The US already has several military bases in the Middle East — in Bahrain, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Now when American presence is going to increase in Syria, Iran has come under American siege from almost all four directions.

Currently, about 40,000 American soldiers are deployed in the Middle East. The presence of these troops gives the US strong military and political control over the region, while it has become a matter of deep strategic concern for Iran.

Iran’s increased concern

The new US base to be built in Damascus will help monitor a possible security agreement between Syria and Israel. This is an indication that America is now taking steps towards influencing the politics of the Middle East directly from Damascus and this has become the biggest threat to Iran.

This US presence in the Syrian capital would show that Syria has begun to build new strategic relations with the US after the fall of Iran’s ally and long-time leader Bashar al-Assad last year. It is under these relationships that America is now building an airbase.

Peace agreement between Israel and Syria

The base is near an area in southern Syria that will be made a demilitarized zone as part of the peace deal between Israel and Syria. This agreement is being signed by US President Donald Trump. US President Donald Trump will meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara at the White House on Monday. This will be the first such visit by a Syrian President.

Reuters spoke to six people involved in preparations for the base, including two Western officials and a Syrian defense official. He confirmed that the US plans to use this base to monitor a possible Israel-Syria agreement.

US is strengthening its position in Syria

A US administration official said that the US is constantly evaluating its situation in Syria to effectively counter ISIS (Islamic State),

A Syrian defense official said that the US checked the runway condition of the base using a C-130 military aircraft. It is not yet clear when American troops will be sent to the base. The US already has troops deployed in north-eastern Syria as part of a nearly decade-long campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) with the help of Kurdish-led forces there.

US wants a compromise

The US has been working for months on a security agreement between Israel and Syria – longtime enemies. Washington wanted this agreement to be announced during the United Nations General Assembly in September, but the talks got stuck at the last minute.

A source close to Syria told Reuters that Washington is pressuring Syria to reach an agreement before the end of the year, and before Shara’s visit to Washington.