BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 334, March 23, 2016
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The partial departure of Russian forces from Syria reflects Vladimir Putin’s achievement of several well-defined goals, including the stabilization of Bashar al-Assad and the bolstering of Russia’s global diplomatic position. The resultant balance of power in Syria gives Israel time and space with which to bolster its defenses.
Why are Russian military forces leaving Syria? And what does the withdrawal tell us about why they came? Vladimir Putin’s snap decision to withdraw a significant proportion of Russian forces from Syria (while leaving “boots on the ground” at the naval base …read more