Photo: Russian media.
The conflict in Syria has been going on for more than a decade, and new deep divisions are emerging against this backdrop, worsening the situation not only in the country itself but also in the entire Middle East. Despite numerous attempts by the international community to reach a peaceful settlement, Russia’s support for the Bashar al-Assad regime only intensifies the conflict. This is compounded by military operations, violence and terrorism used by both sides to achieve their political goals. Russia, for the sake of its interests, is actually supporting a terrorist regime that brings suffering to tens of thousands of civilians, according to the Time Ukraine Israel news portal.
Russia and Bashar al-Assad: an alliance based on violence
Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, Russia has become a key ally of the Bashar al-Assad regime. However, despite the Kremlin’s rhetoric about fighting terrorism, Moscow’s actions increasingly indicate a desire to continue its dominance in Syria at the expense of the blood and suffering of civilians. Russia’s military support for Assad does not stop with the supply of weapons, equipment and training of Syrian troops – Moscow is actively using its aircraft and other resources to destroy civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and residential areas. This violates international humanitarian law and leads to massive civilian casualties.
In addition, Russia is becoming one of the main players supporting the Syrian government’s military operations, which involve systematic attacks on opposition forces, including “moderate” rebels, whom the West supports as an alternative to terrorist groups. Although the Kremlin claims that its goal is to destroy terrorism, in reality, under the cover of these operations, all those who oppose Assad, including members of the opposition who have no connection to radical groups, suffer.
Terrorism as an instrument of war: from the state to unauthorised groups
According to the Syrian government’s official propaganda, all opposition forces, including the “moderate” opposition and armed groups fighting against Assad, are “terrorists”. This oversimplification of the situation only contributes to the escalation of violence. Among these groups are radical groups linked to al-Qaeda, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which are actively involved in the war. However, there are also less radical oppositionists fighting for democratic reforms in Syria, and they cannot be equated with terrorists. Russia, which actively supports the Assad regime, often uses the term “terrorists” as a means of justifying its military actions, which have caused innocent casualties.
Russian airstrikes on Syrian rebel-controlled territory, including rebel forces backed by the United States and its allies, have repeatedly violated international humanitarian law by hitting civilian objects and causing massive civilian casualties. Moreover, such actions undermine any attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Russia’s influence on terrorist groups
We cannot ignore the fact that Russia itself has come under criticism for supporting terrorist groups in Syria. Despite its claims to fight terrorism, Russia is actively supporting the regime that is itself the source of terrorist attacks. Moscow’s support for the Syrian government, not only in the form of military aid, but also in political support within international organisations, allows Assad to stay on the throne while violating basic human rights and the rights of civilians.
Although Russia often claims to be fighting terrorism, its support for terrorist groups operating in Syria under Assad’s control actually leads to an even greater expansion of the terrorist threat. In such circumstances, it is difficult to talk about stability or peace in the country, as both Assad and Russia are in fact the main destabilising factors.
International reaction and implications for the Middle East
The international community, in particular the United Nations, regularly condemns Russia’s actions in Syria, noting that Moscow’s military operations in the country have no legal basis and only worsen the humanitarian situation. Many Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, support the Syrian opposition, which is fighting for democratic changes in the country. Meanwhile, Russia continues to support the Assad regime despite international pressure.
Russia’s support for terrorist groups not only worsens the situation in Syria, but also poses serious threats to stability in the entire region. Many experts believe that the Kremlin’s actions in Syria contribute to the spread of radical ideologies and increase terrorist threats in other countries in the Middle East and beyond.
Russia and Assad are an obstacle to peace in Syria
Despite Russia’s and Bashar al-Assad’s attempts to portray themselves as “fighters against terrorism”, their actions in Syria only contribute to further deepening the humanitarian crisis and escalating violence. The absence of genuine steps towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict, as well as continued support for terrorist groups acting on the side of the government, raises serious concerns among the international community. Syria, under the influence of Russia and Assad, is becoming not only a hostage to war, but also an important link in the broader global fight against terrorism, where the role of these two players is far from clear.
