PHOTO: Claimed image of a Russian long-range bombers at the base in Hamedan in western Iran
I spoke with Monocle 24’s The Daily on Tuesday night about the latest escalation of the Russian-Iranian intervention in Syria’s civil war, with Russia’s long-range bombers beginning their operations from a base in Western Iran.
We consider the Russian and Iranian strategies, the immediate catalyst — the rebel offensive near Aleppo that has exposed the weakness of the Syrian military — and the indecisive and damaging response of the US throughout the conflict.
The other participant in the discussion is Michael Binyon of The Times of London.
Listen from 3:46:
The reason why the Russians have to escalate is not out of strength, but out of weakness. The Assad regime does not have enough manpower to fight this war on the ground.
The only thing preventing a collapse of the Syrian forces — in addition to some Iranian and Hezbollah forces on the ground — is the Russian Air Force.
