With Russian military support, the Syrian government has won major victories in the city of Aleppo. The failure of the Western-backed Syrian opposition to maintain control in the strategic city, which is considered a “trump card” in the context of the war in Syria, has been cause for concern in Western capitals.
A series of incidents exacerbating tensions between Russia and the West have broken out since the US declared an end to dialogue with Russia aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Syria. The US and its allies could not have expected that the “mistaken” airstrikes by the US-led coalition, which killed dozens of Syrian soldiers in the northeast of the country on September 17, would provoke such fierce counter-attacks by Syria’s Russian-backed government forces.
In the wake of these airstrikes, Moscow immediately took steps to strengthen its military power in Syria, causing concern in Washington. After the State Duma and the Federal Council approved a deal allowing Russia to permanently deploy its air force in the Middle Eastern country, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the document.
Accordingly, Russia set up the Hmeimim Air Base to conduct campaigns in support of forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) under an agreement signed in August with the Damascus government.
It is estimated that Russia has about 4,000 soldiers stationed at the base and has deployed multiple bombers and fighters there. Russia has also sent its S-300 and S-400 missile defence systems to the Hmeimim and Tartus Air Bases in Syria.
The US has repeatedly argued that these moves to strengthen Russia’s military capability in Syria are not aimed at the IS, but at Washington, as the terrorist group does not have cruise missiles and aircraft weaponry.
New developments from the Russian side have caused “restlessness” in the West. The Russia–France relationship has also become extremely tense, especially with the cancellation of President Putin’s visit to the “Hexagon” after fierce controversy erupted between the two sides at the UN Security Council. Russia has used its veto to reject a draft resolution on Syria proposed by France.
It is not difficult to realise that the reason behind the abovementioned decision by the Russian President is in response to the tough stance of Paris regarding the situation in Aleppo, as well as France’s desire to send the Syrian issue to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault threatened to take Russia to an international tribunal, alleging that interference by Moscow had led to the escalation of violence in Aleppo.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, who led recent negotiations with other Western powers on the Syrian conflict, recently proposed that the British Parliament quickly review its military plans in Syria. The US and its British ally also warned that the two countries, along with Western allies, were considering imposing new sanctions aimed at economic targets in Syria and Russia.
As a strategic city in northern Syrian, Aleppo is considered the “trump card” in the Syrian conflict. Therefore, both government troops and rebels are determined to gain control of the city.
The US and its Western allies are “over a barrel” as they witness Syrian government troops regained territory after territory from the hands of insurgents in Aleppo, with support from Russian airstrikes.
Meanwhile, at a disadvantage faced with the rapid advance of government troops, the main opposition group in Syria has called on foreign allies to provide insurgent forces with land-to-air weapons to help them turn the tables. However, this proposal, if realised, would have incalculable consequences should such weapons fall into the hands of terrorists.
The conflict between the US and its allies with Russia in the Syrian war has raised fears that a new world war may break out. However, a direct war between Russia and the US is a worst-case scenario that both sides want to avoid.
In an attempt to cool tensions, in Lausanne, Switzerland, diplomats from the US, Russia and other concerned countries recently had their first contact after three weeks of tensions. However, the parties’ failure to reach a resolution on Syrian issue at the Lausanne meeting illustrates how serious the current tensions are.
