Syria will be an arena for the Moscow-Tehran alliance

The failed mutiny launched by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group last week has returned Russia to the global headlines. As of now, however, despite the former caterer’s efforts, it appears that the regime of President Vladimir Putin remains securely in power. 

As such, it is an opportune moment to take a close look at some of Russia’s less-remarked-upon activities, far from the road to Moscow, Rostov-on-Don and the Ukrainian front. The first leader who Putin chose to call, once it was clear that he had survived the Wagner mutiny, was President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran. Not by chance. 

Earlier this month, the US deployed F-22 Raptor fighter jets from Langley Air Base to the skies over Syria. Their mission: to ensure the security of US positions in the country, in the face of a recent uptick in incidents of interference by Russian aircraft deployed in Syria. READ MORE