in the region reduce american influence and keep radical islamists out of power the russian air station near latakia is now a permanent fixture on the tarsus marine base russia's only such base in the mediterranean is being enlarged. president hassan rouhani of iran is another supporter after all iran has no intention of losing one of its closest allies in the arab world from day one on a support to damascus with advisors weapons and troops syria in return grants around a much needed route to the hezbollah militia in lebanon. this man on the other hand would like to see us out of power in turkey a supporter of various rebel groups from the start and since january has had its own troops in syria one of president early ones goals is to push back groups to gain influence in parts of syria by supporting u.s.