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Russia Unlikely to Help Syria Break Away from Iranian Influence

(19FortyFive) Anna Borshchevskaya - As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reconsolidates control over Syria, many in Israel hope that Russia might push Assad away from Iran. Is this realistic? Moscow accepted Israeli airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Syria not out of sympathy but rather because Russia has a genuine interest to keep Iranian ambitions in check and not let Iran become powerful enough to challenge it. However, Russia had neither the ability nor desire to limit Iranian-backed forces in Syria. Russia's entire Syria intervention depended on Iran doing the heavy lifting, keeping the Russian intervention limited and inexpensive. There is no indication Putin wants to risk a clash with Iran. The hope that differences between Russia and Iran will emerge as fighting ends is misplaced and reflects wishful thinking more than reality. Iranian tentacles are entrenched too deep in Syria and Assad owes not only Putin but also Tehran his survival. The writer is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2021-12-27 00:00:00
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