Game-Changer: Russia’s Role in Syria 'Brought Regional Forces Together'
TEHRAN (Basirat)- This week will mark the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aerial campaign in Syria. Moscow launched its first airstrikes against terrorist positions in Syria at the behest of its government on September 30.
This week will mark the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aerial campaign in Syria. Moscow launched its first airstrikes against terrorist positions in Syria at the behest of its government on September 30.
This week will mark the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aerial campaign in Syria. Moscow launched its first airstrikes against terrorist positions in Syria at the behest of its government on September 30.
"There was a shift in the strategy when Russia got involved. It
wasn’t just about the air power but also about diplomacy and the
coordination of different forces of that time. Russia helped coordinate
and strengthen the relationship with Iran and Iraq too,” Anderson told
Sputnik.
He further said that Russia was a unifier. "It helped bring about a
new regional force and that coordination was very important because as
we now know on the other side, we have proxy armies being orchestrated
by some NATO countries and some Gulf Council coordination countries.”
Talking about Russia’s major achievements in Syria, Anderson said, "I think it was putting the proxy armies of NATO and the Gulf states on the back foot. It was really turning the war around and as we saw the results from early 2015 to this year, there are a very large number of displaced people returning to their homes. Several hundred villages and towns across Northern Syria have been liberated.”
Talking about Russia’s major achievements in Syria, Anderson said, "I think it was putting the proxy armies of NATO and the Gulf states on the back foot. It was really turning the war around and as we saw the results from early 2015 to this year, there are a very large number of displaced people returning to their homes. Several hundred villages and towns across Northern Syria have been liberated.”
Looking at the current situation in Syria and assuming what would
have happened had Russia turned down Assad’s request for aerial support
to fight the militants, what would have happened then, Anderson said,
"Around this time last year I was in Syria, the Syrians held their
ground but there was this huge invasion of an al-Qaeda linked group from
Turkey into Idlib and Palmyra.”
He further said that although those invasions were turned around, the Syrian Army was starting on many fronts and the role of Iran on the ground was very important to ending the conflict.
He further said that although those invasions were turned around, the Syrian Army was starting on many fronts and the role of Iran on the ground was very important to ending the conflict.
"The role of Iran in the coordination of ground forces and
recruiting the militia from around the region was vital. What was even
more important was the coordination of Iran with Russia. I stress once
again that the coordination role of different partners which you might
call the Syrian alliance in Syria was very important,” the analyst said.
Looking back at the past year in Syria, it can be seen that the missions were conducted in close cooperation with the Syrian troops, using intelligence data collected from a coordination center in Baghdad.
Looking back at the past year in Syria, it can be seen that the missions were conducted in close cooperation with the Syrian troops, using intelligence data collected from a coordination center in Baghdad.
In March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the
withdrawal of a major bulk of the Russian forces from Syria, citing the
successful fulfillment of their tasks.
However, some of the air units remained in the country to provide aerial support for ground operations launched by the Syrian Army.
The analyst further spoke about how now it is known through a lot of independent evidence that the US was actually directly or indirectly backing proxy groups.
However, some of the air units remained in the country to provide aerial support for ground operations launched by the Syrian Army.
The analyst further spoke about how now it is known through a lot of independent evidence that the US was actually directly or indirectly backing proxy groups.
"President Putin used the same rationale when he got involved in
Syria and that was to try and avoid direct confrontation with the US, to
try and use the same language, knowing that the US would tie itself up
in knots there,” Anderson said.
He further said that it was impossible for the US to completely cut itself off from the great force of the jihadists in Syria.
He further said that it was impossible for the US to completely cut itself off from the great force of the jihadists in Syria.
"This involvement got really tested in the last few weeks because
the crux of the last ceasefire agreement, which was worked out and the
Russian government put it on the line, now was really about the US
trying to get its act together. It was to delineate who these moderate
rebels were and when the US will disassociate itself from the al-Qaeda
groups,” Anderson said.
He further spoke about the current crisis between the US and Russia’s diplomatic ties and whether it will get back on track or not.
He further spoke about the current crisis between the US and Russia’s diplomatic ties and whether it will get back on track or not.
All in all, in the past twelve months the Russian Aerospace Forces
destroyed thousands of terrorist positions in Syria, including command
and control centers, arms depots, oil refineries and other
installations.
The aerial campaign also made it possible to free key areas in Latakia, Idlib and Aleppo province, including Syria’s famous ancient city of Palmyra.
The aerial campaign also made it possible to free key areas in Latakia, Idlib and Aleppo province, including Syria’s famous ancient city of Palmyra.
