As Russia’s military build-up in Syria moved forward, President Vladimir Putin addressed the 70th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and held bilateral talks with President Barack Obama. On September 30, Putin received authority from the Russian Federation Council to send his forces into action and consequently ordered the Russian Federation’s first “out-of-area operation” (that is, outside the former Soviet Union) to commence. Russian airstrikes in support of the Syrian regime prepare the way for an offensive involving ground forces from Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. The nature of the Russian force grouping, its deployment and early use against a …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation
