Bennett to Ask Biden Not to Withdraw From Iraq, Syria Over Iran Fears

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Israeli "Walla" website quotes a "senior" source saying he expects Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to ask President Joe Biden not to withdraw the US forces from Iraq and Syria, citing that such withdrawal would "serve Iran and strengthen its regional role" as a pretext.

"The US forces in Iraq are extremely important," he added.

The site also said Bennett would make a proposition to Biden, which entails forming a regional "defensive" alliance between "Israel," the United States, and Arab countries to promote normalizing ties with the occupation.

The Israeli official said such a regional coalition would help deter "Iranian aggression and Iran's aspirations of assuming control of the region." The source also expects Bennett to recommend the formation of a US-Israeli team to deal with the "Iranian issue."

Reuters had quoted a US official saying Biden will tell Bennett he "will remain committed for now to diplomacy with Tehran" during their White House meeting, adding that Biden will reject any Bennett proposition that halts the efforts to revive the JCPOA.

Israeli media had previously reported that the US army decided against purchasing "Israel's" Iron Dome air defense system.

"The Jerusalem Post" reported that the US army decided to buy the US-made Dynetics Enduring Shield, which has 360-degree detection and can fire at multiple threats simultaneously.