Europe

Home page

Europe

Western intelligence: Russian blitzkrieg in Syria failed

16 March 2016 09:39 (UTC +04:00)

As told the Financial Times a high-ranking source in the European special services, the initial plan of Russia in Syria was quick to lead the military campaign, which over several months would help the forces of President Bashar al-Assad to occupy the territory up to the Turkish border, to regain full control of the regime over Aleppo and weaken the moderate Syrian opposition to the level at which Washington had refused its support and joined Russia and its partners in the fight against “Islamic state” (ISIS, prohibited in Russia, a terrorist organization).

However, stronger than expected resistance of the rebels, a tense confrontation with Turkey, the spread of Iranian military influence and the prospect that world oil prices will remain at $40 a barrel, sharply limited the ability of Moscow to this military expedition, he added FT.

On March 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered start of Russian military withdrawal from Syria.