Russia has agreed that thousands more Iranian troops may enter Syria in support of the exhausted regime forces which have limited military capabilities, Israel’s Maariv revealed on Friday.

According to the newspaper’s security analyst, Yossi Melman, Israeli intelligence evaluation has disclosed that in the battle against Daesh in eastern Syria the regime needs intensive support from the well-trained Iranian troops as well as Russian air cover. Russia, he said, has approved the reinforcements from Iran.

“The Iranian presence in Syria will increase as long as Russia is interested in supporting the stability of the Assad regime to maintain control of Syria, or most parts of it,” intelligence sources were quoted as saying.

Melman pointed out that the Israelis are concerned that Iranian and Hezbollah troops will be deployed near the occupied Golan Heights. Israel expects thousands of Iranian soldiers to join the 1,500 “experts” who have been in Syria for years. He claimed that Israel recognises that its ability to affect the emerging situation in Syria is limited.

The senior security analyst added that a recent Israeli delegation headed by the Director of Mossad, Yossi Cohen, went to the White House and discussed the situation in Syria. An informed Israeli source told Melman that the delegation had all the appearances of a funeral. “Those who offered condolences were the Americans,” he explained. “The Israelis received the condolences and the funeral procession included the burial of US policy in Syria.”