Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs Russia and Iran in the Syrian Crisis: Similar Aspirations, Different Approaches – By Tatev Antonyan
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS BOOK RECOMMENDATION
11 Sept 2019 – The revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests that began in Tunisia in
December 2010 and spread across the Middle East has led, at least in some
cases, to a change in government. In Syria, of course, events took an even more
dramatic turn, resulting in the bloody civil war that continues to this day. Iran
and Russia are the two leading external actors in that conflict. The similarities
and differences in their strategic approaches are rooted in their policies and geopolitical
interests in Syria. Russian and Iranian interests lie behind their steadfast
support for the Assad regime, but are also why Russia, contrary to Iran, does
not seek to deepen its involvement in Syria.