ISTANBUL — Since the outbreak of the Arab Uprisings in 2011, Russian president Vladimir Putin has been the most dependable ally of the Assad regime in Syria. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, by contrast, has incessantly called for the overthrow of the Damascus government. While Erdoğan has made a concerted effort to organize and arm the jihadis fighting Assad, Putin has categorically referred to all such groups, even those backed by Turkey, as “terrorists.” Earlier this week, Russia’s support for Assad entered a new phase as Russian fighter planes bombed opposition targets in Syria for the first time. …read more
Source: The Huffington Post
