The Strategic Goals of Russia in Syria

Russia's intervention in Syria aimed to prevent the Islamic State from establishing a stronghold that could threaten its southern borders. President Putin clarified that the main objective was to ensure regional stability without deploying significant ground troops, relying instead on local forces, including the Syrian army and Iranian proxies. By avoiding a more direct military presence, Russia managed to safeguard its own interests while still supporting the Syrian government. However, as the Assad regime faced recent collapses, the endurance of their strategic approach is called into question.