Russia’s intervention has made the complex pattern of alliances and enmities in Syria still more intricate. The Assad regime and its local opponents are backed to differing degrees and in different configurations by military powers from near and far On 30 September 2015 Russia launched airstrikes against groups fighting Assad after building a military presence in his western strongholds. Since June 2014 a US-led coalition has used regional bases to launch its own airstrikes against predominantly Islamic State targets. Syria is roughly divided between four groups: regime forces supported by Hezbollah; Isis; other Islamist groups; and more moderate opposition groups. Kurdish militias separately control areas in the north of
Russia Russia's initial claim that it was only striking Isis positions was contradicted by multiple reports from the ground and it later admitted targeting other anti-regime groups. Moscow is a long-term supporter of the Syrian state and now appears willing to hit any faction, Islamist or secular, fighting its beleaguered army. This includes groups operating under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, which have received some training and equipment from the US.
US Washington opposes the Syrian regime but has taken very limited steps to ensure its downfall and has recently signalled it may even consider a transitional role for Assad. A US programme provided small numbers of moderate rebels with ammunition and training to fight Isis on the ground but this was paused after a series of embarrassing setbacks. The US continues to head up an international coalition which is bombing targets in Syria belonging to Isis and occasionally the Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as supporting Kurdish forces fighting Isis in the north.
UK The UK parliament voted on 2 December 2015 to join the US-led coalition in bombing Isis targets in Syria. Britain had already been launching airstrikes against Isis in Iraq from its strategically important base in Cyprus. The UK government opposes Assad and in 2013, during his first term as prime minister, David Cameron lost a vote intended to approve airstrikes in response to the suspected use of chemical weapons by regime forces. Moderate anti-Assad groups received significant “non-lethal” backing from Britain earlier in the conflict.
France France extended its airstrikes against Isis from Iraq to Syria in September 2015 as part of the US-led coalition and increased the intensity of strikes on Raqaa after the 13 November Paris terror attacks. It also dispatched the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the eastern Mediterranean. France has backed moderate anti-Assad forces and wanted to launch airstrikes on the regime in 2013, but since 130 died in Paris has prioritised forging an anti-Isis alliance. Foreign minister Laurent Fabius suggested this could include regime forces, later clarifying such cooperation only be envisaged as part of a "credible political transition".
Turkey
Turkey has continued to back rebels opposed to Assad despite the Russian intervention, and has clashed with Moscow over incursions into Turkish airspace. The relationship with Russia is complicated by the fact that in northern Latakia, where Russia has conducted numerous air raids, Turkey has backed ethnic Syrian Turkmen who are part of the opposition forces battling Assad. In November 2015, Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian SU-24 fighter jet that strayed for seconds into Turkish airspace. The body of the pilot was returned to Russia, but the incident prompted Russian sanctions and a declaration by Vladimir Putin that Turkey, a Nato member, was an "accomplice" to terrorists.
Iran
Tehran rejects any suggestion that its staunch ally, Assad, steps down and is a significant military backer of his regime. Iran has provided the Syrian government with military equipment, advisers and Revolutionary Guards commanders to train and assist its armed forces. Its Lebanese ally and proxy, Hezbollah, is actively fighting alongside the regime's forces, as are Iran-backed Shia militias from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia
Insists that Assad must depart for there to be a solution to the crisis, backs a range of Islamist and moderate Syrian opposition fighters and has also carried out airstrikes as part of the US-led coaliton against Isis. Has allegedly helped provide anti-tank missiles to rebels fighting the regime in the north, particularly in Idlib.
Qatar
The Gulf state's Al-Udeid airbase is a major operations hub for US forces and Qatar has also bombed Isis targets in Syria as part of the coalition. Doha backs a range of Islamist and moderate rebel fighters, occasionally negotiating on their behalf and had previously agreed to open a training centre for rebels recruited by the US.
Jordan
Opposes Assad and backs rebels fighting in the southern front near the provinces of Daraa and Suweida, offering logistic support and training as well as hosting a joint operations room for the south. Has taken part in anti-Isis coalition airstrikes. the country.
Russia Russia's initial claim that it was only striking Isis positions was contradicted by multiple reports from the ground and it later admitted targeting other anti-regime groups. Moscow is a long-term supporter of the Syrian state and now appears willing to hit any faction, Islamist or secular, fighting its beleaguered army. This includes groups operating under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, which have received some training and equipment from the US.
US Washington opposes the Syrian regime but has taken very limited steps to ensure its downfall and has recently signalled it may even consider a transitional role for Assad. A US programme provided small numbers of moderate rebels with ammunition and training to fight Isis on the ground but this was paused after a series of embarrassing setbacks. The US continues to head up an international coalition which is bombing targets in Syria belonging to Isis and occasionally the Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as supporting Kurdish forces fighting Isis in the north.
UK The UK parliament voted on 2 December 2015 to join the US-led coalition in bombing Isis targets in Syria. Britain had already been launching airstrikes against Isis in Iraq from its strategically important base in Cyprus. The UK government opposes Assad and in 2013, during his first term as prime minister, David Cameron lost a vote intended to approve airstrikes in response to the suspected use of chemical weapons by regime forces. Moderate anti-Assad groups received significant “non-lethal” backing from Britain earlier in the conflict.
France France extended its airstrikes against Isis from Iraq to Syria in September 2015 as part of the US-led coalition and increased the intensity of strikes on Raqaa after the 13 November Paris terror attacks. It also dispatched the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the eastern Mediterranean. France has backed moderate anti-Assad forces and wanted to launch airstrikes on the regime in 2013, but since 130 died in Paris has prioritised forging an anti-Isis alliance. Foreign minister Laurent Fabius suggested this could include regime forces, later clarifying such cooperation only be envisaged as part of a "credible political transition".
Turkey
Turkey has continued to back rebels opposed to Assad despite the Russian intervention, and has clashed with Moscow over incursions into Turkish airspace. The relationship with Russia is complicated by the fact that in northern Latakia, where Russia has conducted numerous air raids, Turkey has backed ethnic Syrian Turkmen who are part of the opposition forces battling Assad. In November 2015, Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian SU-24 fighter jet that strayed for seconds into Turkish airspace. The body of the pilot was returned to Russia, but the incident prompted Russian sanctions and a declaration by Vladimir Putin that Turkey, a Nato member, was an "accomplice" to terrorists.
Iran
Tehran rejects any suggestion that its staunch ally, Assad, steps down and is a significant military backer of his regime. Iran has provided the Syrian government with military equipment, advisers and Revolutionary Guards commanders to train and assist its armed forces. Its Lebanese ally and proxy, Hezbollah, is actively fighting alongside the regime's forces, as are Iran-backed Shia militias from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia
Insists that Assad must depart for there to be a solution to the crisis, backs a range of Islamist and moderate Syrian opposition fighters and has also carried out airstrikes as part of the US-led coaliton against Isis. Has allegedly helped provide anti-tank missiles to rebels fighting the regime in the north, particularly in Idlib.
Qatar
The Gulf state's Al-Udeid airbase is a major operations hub for US forces and Qatar has also bombed Isis targets in Syria as part of the coalition. Doha backs a range of Islamist and moderate rebel fighters, occasionally negotiating on their behalf and had previously agreed to open a training centre for rebels recruited by the US.
Jordan
Opposes Assad and backs rebels fighting in the southern front near the provinces of Daraa and Suweida, offering logistic support and training as well as hosting a joint operations room for the south. Has taken part in anti-Isis coalition airstrikes. the country.
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