Russian military intervention and aid to Syria #1

ultron wrote:Personally, I don't have much hope of Russia conducting air strikes in Syria. Russia is no western country, no middle eastern country. Bombing in another country is simply not Russia's style. Since when has Russia ever carried out an air strike in another country? Never. Not even in Donbas when the coup regime shelled cities and killed thousands of civilians. I think tomorrow Putin will discuss having Assad resign and start a transitioning process in exchange for the west to drop some of the sanctions on Russia.

Sanctions hurt Russia and the EU but help the American economy... can't see the US allowing them to end.
Putin will not sell out Assad.

ultron wrote:Personally, I don't have much hope of Russia conducting air strikes in Syria. Russia is no western country, no middle eastern country. Bombing in another country is simply not Russia's style. Since when has Russia ever carried out an air strike in another country? Never. Not even in Donbas when the coup regime shelled cities and killed thousands of civilians. I think tomorrow Putin will discuss having Assad resign and start a transitioning process in exchange for the west to drop some of the sanctions on Russia.

Those planes are there for a reason. And even if they do not fly any sorties, their sheer presence has already had major influence on the geopolitical front.

Russia decided to establish stable foothold in the Mediterranean and they will want to clear out the scum from the vicinity of their new bases (for now Tartus and Latakia).

They do not need to clear out all of Syria but they can "process" the best part of it (coastline and habitable zones) no problem.
Rest of it is useless desert anyway... FSA and "democratic" opposition can shack up there.    

My guess is that Palmyra will be first order of business and the asshat who wrote this Uncle Sam fluffing tripe seems to agree:

"What’s Putin up to in Syria? I would wager he’s after something big – retaking Palmyra"

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/what-s-putin-up-to-in-syria-i-would-wager-he-s-after-something-big-retaking-palmyra-a6669446.html

Lifting the siege of that air base (forgot the name) would be next on the menu, or maybe it would be done simultaneously.

EDIT:

Another article:

"Syria Crisis: Russia puts troops on the ground in the fight against Isis. Palmyra may be the first Islamist target to be attacked"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-crisis-russia-puts-troops-on-the-ground-in-the-fight-against-isis-a6669541.html

..................Russian fighter pilots are being given the task of taking part in military operations in Syria, as it would take too long to train the country’s own pilots to fly the advanced fighter-bombers now arriving. But Russian troops will not be involved, except in an emergency, in any ground operations, sources say.............

Putin: better to fight militants on Syrian territory than to expect their return to Russia

MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. It is more preferable for Russia to fight militants from the former Soviet Union on the territory of Syria than to expect their return, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the US TV anchorman Charles Rose for the CBS and PBS channels.
"There are more than 2,000 militants in Syria from the former Soviet Union. So instead of waiting for them to return back home we should help President al-Assad fight them there, in Syria. This is the main incentive that impels us to help President al-Assad," Putin said. "In general, we want the situation in the region to stabilize."
The Russian leader said the assessment that Assad’s actions help the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and that Assad’s resignation may help boost antiterrorism efforts is "a blatant act by al-Assad’s enemies. It is anti-Syrian propaganda.".

Putin: Syrian problem can only be solved by strengthening legitimate authorities

ultron wrote:Just as I thought, Putin says there will be no Russian military action in Syria.

https://twitter.com/onlinekpru/status/648364028255821824

You should go through the news. Putin said no troops to engage. Didnt mention about advisors, trainers or airforce.

medo wrote:When we will see satellite picture of Su-34 in Latakia airport, than we could believe it is there. From the picture there, this Su-34 could as well fly somewhere in the south Russia or over Crimea.

Now that you mentioned it, i remember that there was infographics about Su-34 on Sputnik this morning of all days.

Strange coincidence is it not?