“Russia has Reset the Chessboard” - and Russia made its first move

Russian involvement in Syria went from 0 mph to Mach 2 on September 30, just like the Russian Su-30s flying out of Tartus airbase. Two days before the commencement of Russian operations in Syria, Vladimir Putin addressed the 70th session of the United Nations in New York. During the speech, President Putin condemned the Western coalition’s refusal to operate with the government forces of Bashar Al-Assad.

According to Russia Today, the Russian Air Force already conducted up to 50 airstrikes against the self-styled Islamic State (IS). However, the question of whether these are actually IS targets has been raised by many parties. The BBC reported on Friday that there had been a series of Russian airstrikes on positions not held by IS, but by the more moderate and Western backed Free Syrian Army in Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. As of Sunday, Russia started to launch bombing runs against the IS strongholds of Al-Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor, including a “terrorist training camp and a suicide belt factory.”

This selective use of the word “terrorist” upset many Western leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and U.S. President Barack Obama. Cameron told the BBC that Vladimir Putin was “actually backing the butcher Assad”. British Defence Minister Michael Fallon supported the Prime Minister’s statement by later adding, “Our evidence indicates they are dropping unguided munitions in civilian areas, killing civilians, and they are dropping them against the Free Syrian forces fighting Assad. He's shoring up Assad and perpetuating the suffering.”

President Obama took no less harsh a tone, stating, "We're not going to cooperate with a Russian campaign to destroy anyone who is disgusted and fed up with Assad.” The president summarized the West’s fears about Russian intervention: "From [Russia's] perspective, they're all terrorists. And that's a recipe for disaster."

Russia’s Reputation at Stake

Russia has been frozen out of world politics since the annexation of Crimea in early 2014. Direct intervention in Syria is a way for Vladimir Putin to force the global community to recognize the ability of Russia to decisively project its hard power looking more closely at the failure of the American-led coalition to effectively intervene in Syria or mediate a peaceful resolution.

Before Russian intervention, the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, and others in the Western coalition had authorized air strikes against only Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq, while the U.K. Parliament authorized its armed forces to conduct airstrikes only in Iraq. Russia, however, is trying to show itself as a leader in the global community by acting decisively.

Furthermore, Russia’s interests lie with Assad, thwarting any chance that the Western coalition may have to ensure the victory of the Free Syrian Army. Russia successfully blocked proposals for a No-Fly-Zone back in 2013. Additionally proposals for a “Safe Zone” by both Turkey and Jordan have failed to materialize before the current Russian intervention. As Dr. Vali Nasr, Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said, “The Russian action has essentially reset the chessboard in Syria.” It is not a quick checkmate for the Coalition forces, but Vladimir Putin has brought Russia to the fore and made the next move very difficult.