Speaking to lawmakers at the Senate Armed Services Committee, Stewart said Moscow’s military support has made Assad “much stronger” than he was six months ago.
“He’s in a much stronger negotiating position, and I’m more inclined to believe that he is a player on the stage longer term than he was six months to a year ago,” Stewart said. “He’s in a much better position.”
Russia began an independent air campaign last September to strike what it calls terrorists in Syria, including ISIS, World Bulletin reported.
But statistics have shown that Moscow’s strikes, predominantly in the northwest of the country, have primarily been geared toward strengthening Assad’s battlefield positions.
Assad’s loyalists has made strides over the past few months with Russian air cover and the support of allied Shiite militias, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Most recently it has begun to seize positions long held by opposition fighters around Aleppo. The gains could serve to provide Assad with the ability to besiege Syria’s second city, opponents have warned.
Prior to Russia’s intervention, the Assad forces suffered significant setbacks by opposition fighting groups.
التعليقات (0)