Tales of Russian Ascendancy in the Middle East Are Overblown

by Perry Cammack and Richard Sokolsky The Syrian ceasefire that began on December 29 is the latest diplomatic coup for Russian President Vladimir Putin. It remains to be seen whether this initiative, which builds on the momentum of earlier talks… Continue Reading

Ukraine and Syria: Linked Together by Russia

by Robert E. Hunter The United States and Russia are now at daggers drawn over Syria. Following the collapse of the ceasefire negotiated last month by Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the United States has… Continue Reading

Why Has Tehran Allowed Russian Bombers to Use an Iranian Base?

by Mark N. Katz In a highly dramatic development, Russian bombers have begun using an Iranian base for bombing missions over Syria. Why Moscow would want to do this is clear: flight time to Syria is much shorter from northwestern Iran… Continue Reading