Syria, Syria, Syria...

[jon-nyc]

How it’s related to Ukraine and Israel.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/setbacks-for-russia-iran-and-hezbollah-turn-into-a-catastrophe-for-syrias-assad-c3e693e8?st=j5TNkj&reflink=share_mobilewebshare

[Wim]

From a Ukrainian point of view

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/43117

[Renauda]

@Wim

I understand the axiom, “an enemy of my enemy is my friend” but supporting armed Islamicist fanaticism will not reap any long term benefit. Strategically a dumb move.

[Darth Putin]

[Wim]

And Erdogan smiled...

https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2024/12/syria-russia-turkiye-relationships?lang=en

[AndyD]

Basic foreign policy

[Mik]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-kills-islamic-state-leader-in-syria/ar-AA1weCID

[jon-nyc]

How it started….

[Mik]

Tartus is out of Russian hands. At least for the moment. I doubt Syria's new government is very friendly to Moscow in the foreseeable future.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/syria-deals-blow-to-putin-s-fleet-in-mediterranean/ar-AA1xEcDd

[Renauda]

Having won Having lost the hearts and minds of the Syrian locals:

“The Russians based nearby often raided our neighborhood,” he says. “We were terrified of them, especially the Chechen fighters. We avoided interacting with them, but it wasn’t a peaceful relationship. They were monstrous. They would often come to our market and just take whatever they wanted. But what could we do?”

Abu Salmun, an elderly man standing nearby whose face is scarred by an explosion during the siege, interrupts Latif.

“Under the 2018 agreement, Assad’s forces couldn’t enter Ghouta. So it was the Russians who handled security,” he explains. “Assad had the Iranians behind him, and the Iranians had the Russians behind them. In the end, it was the Russians who called all the shots.”

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/22/they-destroyed-everything-with-russia-gone-syrians-begin-a-long-painful-process-of-rebuilding-a87684