Russia dramatically escalated its role in the Syrian conflict with airstrikes Wednesday. President Vladimir Putin described the campaign as the right way to fight international terrorists, by attacking them in territories they occupy.
But some Russian analysts suggest the Russian military maneuvers were as much about bolstering Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as about fighting terrorists.
“The justification of the Russian move in Syria is that, ‘We are going in to help Assad defeat ISIL,’ ” said Vladimir Frolov, an independent analyst based in Moscow.
“Well, Assad is engaged in very few battles with ISIL,” added Frolov, referring to Islamic State by its alternative …read more
Source: Voice of America
