The main sides in the Syrian conflict are:. President Assad's official Syrian army which receives military backing from Russia So-called Islamic State IS Other Syrian rebels: these are lots of different groups with different aims, including some groups supported by al-Qaeda, and other groups which are supported by the West.
How did Russia get involved in Syria? Leonid Brezhnev was leader of the Soviet Union in the s. The role of the Arab Spring. Muammar Gaddafi was the leader of Libya until he was overthrown in Flexing their military muscle. Members of the Russian military police stand guard in the Syrian city of Manbij. Russia's role on the global stage. Prof Light says Russia would want to avoid Islamist-related attacks on home soil, such as the bomb on the St Petersburg metro on Thursday.
What about the future? A civil defence member breathes through an oxygen mask, after a suspected gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib, Syria. Related Topics. Moscow at that time was also preoccupied with geopolitical games, fighting Islamist fundamentalists in Afghanistan, but the state of domestic affairs was in disarray—and we all know how it ended.
Dmitriy Frolovskiy is a political analyst and independent journalist. He also works as a consultant on policy and strategy in the Middle East and Central Asia. Before their Helsinki summit, the U. A tougher stance from the United Nations would put pressure on Assad and Putin while improving the lives of ordinary Syrians.
Shusha was the key to the recent war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Now Baku wants to turn the fabled fortress town into a resort. Argument An expert's point of view on a current event. By Dmitriy Frolovskiy. February 1, , AM. Report Lara Seligman. Elephants in the Room John Hannah.
The New U. Argument Julien Barnes-Dacey. What in the World? November 12, , PM. Trending 1. Russia is, thus, the senior partner in this relationship. Russian help in Syria could prevent a de jure Kurdish autonomy in the country. This is achieved after establishing an asymmetric balance of power that ensures Turkey will lose more and Russia will win less if they continue with a zero-sum game strategy.
The strategy emerged as a result of the improvisation and political calculations of the Kremlin and the Presidential Palace in Ankara. The method transcends the tactic of supporting one conflicting side against the other and involves engaging with both parties to the advantage of one against the other. In conflicts beyond Russian territory, reflexive control is not straightforward. Russia controls one side; Turkey dominates the opposing party.
Positioning itself within Western multilateral arrangements gives Ankara an edge over Moscow. Syria is a good example. Western support helps Ankara pressure Moscow to limit the Russian-backed advances of the Syrian regime in Idlib. In other words, Ankara plays Western support as a card when negotiating with Russia, but it does not coordinate its actions with its partners.
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