A Look At What Russia's Military Can Do In Syria

Jonathan Marcus, BBC: Syria: What can Russia's air force do?

This is the first Russian military operation beyond the boundaries of the former Soviet Union since the end of the Cold War.

But the US and its coalition partners have already conducted over 7,000 air strikes in Syria and Iraq against the so-called Islamic State. And even on the most optimistic assessment their impact has been limited.

IS is contained but in no sense defeated. So why should Russia be able to do any better?

Russia of course is restricting its strikes to Syria. Its initial combat missions suggest that its fundamental aim is to relieve pressure upon President Assad's embattled forces and that its list of targets will go well beyond those exclusively linked to IS.

WNU Editor: The best part of this report is the last paragraph ....

.... Russian air power is not there to roll back the opposition forces and enable the Assad regime to regain control over the large areas of the country that it has lost. It is about buying President Assad time; changing the regional and diplomatic calculations. And to this extent Russian air power could prove a decisive factor.