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Source: http://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/the-russian-iranian-gambit-in-syria/
The Russian-Iranian Gambit in Syria
(Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies-Bar-Ilan University) Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror - Russia and Iran are taking advantage of the weakness displayed by world leaders and are trying to expand their global influence and dominance across as much as they can of the Fertile Crescent, which spans Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus, and Egypt. Russia brings its considerable international political clout and advanced military capabilities into this equation, while Iran brings funds, knowledge about the lay of the land, and Hizbullah - a large, trained, and well-armed fighting force, dedicated to doing its patron's bidding. The war in Syria will escalate to a fight to the death because, contrary to the hope expressed by external elements, no compromise can be brokered between the rebel Sunni forces and Assad's Alawite regime. The hatred between the Sunnis and Alawites is so intense that the chance of launching a true negotiation that could breed an actual agreement is nonexistent. The writer is a former national security advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel.