Iran, ISIS profiting from Russia’s catastrophic role in Syria
Two months after Russia entered the mayhem in Syria, the utter chaos has dramatically worsened only in favor of ISIS tactically, and Iran strategically. The downing of a Russian Su-24 fighter jet by Turkish F-16s has made the situation even more complicated, pinning world powers against each other at a time when there is a serious need for united measures targeting ISIS. However, as NATO is also seeing its feet dragged into this quarrel and tensions running high, ISIS is most probably planning its next moves, and Iran is profiting immensely as its ayatollahs thrive on turmoil and havoc in the Middle East.
What is Russia exactly doing in Syria?
Moscow claims of providing air support for the ground operations conducted by the Syrian army and foreign Shiite fighters. Despite numerous reports proving so, Russia denies targeting the moderate Syrian opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Army, backed by the West, and only supporting groups that fight ISIS. Yet these airstrikes by Russia in Syria, 4,000 in total to this day, have prompted human rights groups to accuse Russia of bombing civilian areas and violating the laws of war. The West has accused Moscow of targeting moderate opposition forces fighting Bashar Assad and civilian areas in 85% of their airstrikes. This provides a very clear image of how ISIS and Iran are immensely benefitting from Russia’s horrific airstrikes in Syria.
When images are posted on the Internet of Russian planes dropping cluster bombs on civilian areas, there are many doubts in Moscow’s claims of precisely reviewing all targets prior to the attacks. Concerns of Russia’s role in Syria have reached a point that many experts believe Russian military activities in Syria goes much further than airstrikes. Reports indicate Russian forces are also involved in ground attacks alongside the Syrian army. Discovered selfies show Russian soldiers in areas outside of their airbases in Syria.
The incident with Turkey has also materialized the inevitable. With so many countries crisscrossing their fighter jets all over Syria, such a collision would have come sooner or later. These tensions have immediately mushroomed into overtones not heard since the Cold War. Russia rejects claims made by Turkey, and Ankara fires back by demanding an emergency NATO meeting. This is escalating into a major global issue and rest assured that ISIS has plans to maybe strike another major Western city while all attention is focused on de-escalating tensions between Russia and the western world. And again Iran — with much more experience and its devious methods and plans that make those of ISIS look like child’s play — is watching very closely.
Tehran knows very well that mayhem wherever in the Middle East provides opportunity. One look at the disastrous U.S. strategic mistake of invading Iraq in 2003, and how Washington finally handed over a dead state to Iran in a silver plate, acts a reminder of how Tehran so keenly jumps to the occasion of mistakes made by others. And there are ridiculous calls heard of actually involving Russia and Iran in the fight against ISIS. The result of Russia’s two-month long campaign in Syria is far from anything one can praise. Rest assured if Iran is actually arranged to have a role in this effort, there will be nothing but increasing carnage, more innocent lives lost, another wave of refugees flooding into Europe, and Syria becoming another disaster state in the Middle East left to be cleaned up. And Tehran will carry out all its horrific measures under international legitimacy.
As long as the West, especially Washington, refuses to adopt a serious policy and strategy in the Middle East, this turbulent corner of the world will fall further into the abyss. Russia will intensify its airstrikes against moderate opposition forces in Syria and other non-legitimate targets, as seen in its retaliation strike targeting humanitarian aid convoys heading from Turkey into Syria. Iran will be able to fuel sectarian emotions and pin Shiites against Sunnis all across the region, and this is exactly what ISIS needs to recruit even more members to continue its reign of terror in the Levant and Mesopotamia. This renders a win-win situation of the wrong type. ISIS win, Iran win.
Basiri is an Iranian human rights activist and supporter of democratic regime change in Iran. Follow him on Twitter: @Amir_bas