Russian planes at Latakia airbase. AllSource Analysis | GeoNorth | Airbus. All rights reserved.
The rapid expansion of Russia's military presence in Syria, and the start of its bombing campaign on 30 September 2015, add hugely to the complications of the war against Islamic State (ISIS). Moscow states that its motives are to defend Bashar al-Assad's state and, by attacking ISIS at source, to prevent the movement from recruiting more supporters in Russia itself, especially the Caucasus region. In reality, matters are much more nuanced.
