Battlefields are chaotic. In the turmoil created by forces in conflict, it is often hard to discern a clear pattern until the smoke of battle has cleared. With respect to Iraq, Syria provides a counter-balance in the primarily Sunni North-West where the population is less naturally inclined towards Iran. Strategically, they are poles apart.
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Moscow, which has maintained a military presence in Syria for decades as an ally of the ruling Assad family, had an estimated 2,000 personnel in the country when it began air strikes on September 30. Russian Federation says it is striking mainly Islamic State extremists, although numerous airstrikes have focused on areas where rebels are fighting to topple Assad.
By that metric, Russian Federation has done quite well so far. The Saudi military has been launching air strikes in Yemen since March. Many have criticized this practice as exploitation of vulnerable peoples, especially in light of the fact that Afghan refugees are frequently denied employment and basic rights, but have been offered cash and permanent resident status in exchange for their participation in the fight for the preservation of the Assad government.
“ISIS are a very mobile gathering of rabble”, Bondarev said of the Islamic State fighters.
Smoke rises after shelling by the Syrian army, after Russian airstrikes, in Damascus, Syria, October 14, 2015.
Aviation regulators in Moscow said they would not impose their own restrictions on flights to the region. He said fighting was continuing inside parts of the town. If the US-supported opposition forces facing the Syrian regime and its foreign allies had enough power to threaten the regime it might be an objective basis for peace negotiations.
“There is a sort of competition now among the factions to excel in defending the areas so none of them can get accused of being a traitor for losing a strip of land”, said Hadi Abdullah, an opposition activist who travels with the rebels to the front lines to report on fighting.
The Russians have suffered combat casualties, including deaths, said three USA security officials familiar with US intelligence reporting, adding that they did not know the exact numbers. In return Russia’s President Putin would supply the Taliban with heavy weapons and promise to support it internationally should it overthrow the Afghan government and retake control of the country.
But the conditions on the ground, grim as they are, help illustrate the case for hope. The significance of the Iran-Iraq war continues to be felt culturally and economically in Iran, so Syria’s support during the conflict continues to carry weight.
The participants agreed on respecting Syria’s national unity and sovereignty as well as eradicating the terrorist groups operating in the Arab country. However, our military actions in Syria have weakened our image.
As regards Iran’s role, the United States, unlike Russian Federation, is in a morally ambiguous position. At least in this circumstance, some successor to the Assad regime might only control the few territories where it has retained support.
President Obama’s plan to send up to 50 special forces troops to Syria “to train, advise and assist” is a mistake. In reality, however, those “moderate” forces have either been absorbed by or have become allied with the jihadists of the al-Nusra Front and its allies.
Iran and Russian Federation appear to be in close accord, but everything in the Russo-Iranian garden is far from ideal.
It is not only Russia’s long-term interests that are at stake, but also its image.
The reception of Syrian deputy foreign minister Mikdad in Tehran was one message to Russian Federation.
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Similarly, Mikhail Bogdanov called upon Iran to attend the upcoming peace talks on Syria.
