Russia on Wednesday morning carried out airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria for the first time, and footage of Russian planes flying over anti-Assad rebels has emerged.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to portray the strikes as a pre-emptive attack against Islamic State militants. Why has he moved now, and what is his government’s goal?

Veteran Middle East reporter Patrick Cockburn reports at The Independent:

Isis holds more than 50 per cent of Syria according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and has been advancing towards a strategically important road linking Damascus to the north. Its forces are now only 22 miles from this highway and President Assad’s army is on the retreat after four years of war and heavy casualties.

Russia’s key aim, therefore, is to prevent collapse – unlikely – or the significant weakening of the Assad regime. The US is not bombing Isis in Syria in areas the jihadist group is fighting the Syrian army.

Russia has also decided to move now following the failure of Mr Putin to reach any agreement with the US at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York where the threat of Isis has been high on the agenda. …

[Russia’s] priority is to defeat Isis and then save the Assad regime in Damascus. Despite all the controversy over whether Assad should stay or go, the war would carry on in either case. This is very much a civil war with committed supporters on either side. In the short term Russia wants to stop Isis, and if possible defeat it – though this not likely to happen.

Read more here.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

 Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface.  We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig
In this Article:
#assad regime#islamic state#middle east#patrick cockburn#syria#vladimir putin