Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria - Part 13 (January 2018 - March 2018)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria - Part 13 (January 2018 - March 2018)
“Syrian Army tanks on a field during Operation Damascus Steel, March 2018” under public domain by Zlatica Hoke of Voice of America.
In January 2018, the Daily Beast discussed the presence of secret Russian soldiers in Ukraine and Syria, drawing parallels between Russia's private military company, Wagner, and the notorious Blackwater group. This highlighted Russia's use of covert forces in its military operations abroad.
According to Military.com, a U.S. general accused Russia of stalking American forces in the skies over Syria, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
Russia pressed the European Union to provide financial assistance for the reconstruction of Syria, as reported by the Financial Times. This move reflected Russia's intention to shift the burden of rebuilding onto the international community.
In a concerning incident, CNBC reported that a swarm of armed drones attacked a Russian military base in Syria. This highlighted the evolving threats faced by military forces in the region and the use of advanced technology in the conflict.
The Washington Post criticized the U.S., stating that Russia had once again fooled America in Syria. The article argued that Russia had taken advantage of the U.S.'s limited understanding of the conflict to further its own interests.
Al Jazeera explored why Russia refused to grant refugee status to Syrians, shedding light on the complexities of Russia's stance on immigration and the plight of Syrian refugees.
In January 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Russia made remarks holding Russia responsible for the ongoing use of chemical weapons in Syria, further intensifying the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Military Review discussed what kind of victory Russia could achieve in Syria. The article examined the challenges and potential outcomes for Russia as it sought to consolidate its position in the conflict.
In February 2018, CBS News reported that U.S. forces in Syria had targeted and killed Russian mercenaries in a massive attack. The incident raised questions about the extent of Russia's involvement in the conflict and its control over private military contractors.
Despite the attack, it was revealed that the U.S. had notified Russia before the operation, as reported by RFERL. This highlighted the complex communication channels between the two countries' military forces in Syria.
The incident involving the Russian mercenaries received significant media coverage, with Axios, Vox, The Guardian, and NPR reporting on the scores of Russian mercenaries reportedly killed by U.S. airstrikes. The casualties highlighted the escalating violence and the involvement of non-state actors in the conflict.
The Denver Post and The Washington Post reported that Russian approval had led to the attack on U.S. troops in Syria, indicating a high-level decision-making process behind the incident.
BBC News and France 24 explored the shadowy world of Russian mercenaries, specifically the Wagner group, shedding light on their activities and their role in Russia's military operations in Syria.
Foreign Affairs analyzed the mercenary debacle in Syria, discussing whether the Kremlin was losing control over its proxy forces and the implications for Russia's strategy in the region.
The Washington Post and DW criticized Russia's destabilizing role in Syria, highlighting the negative impact of its actions on the stability of the country.
In March 2018, SPIEGEL International questioned the official narrative surrounding the Russian deaths in Syria, raising doubts about the transparency and accuracy of the information provided by the Russian government.
Newsweek provided an overview of the proxy war in Syria, explaining the complex dynamics between the U.S., Russia, Iran, and Turkey and their respective interests in the conflict.
Reuters reported that the White House accused Russia of killing civilians in Syria, further straining diplomatic relations between the two countries.
ABC News highlighted UN investigators' claims that Russia may have committed war crimes in Syria, adding to the mounting criticism of Russia's actions in the conflict.
The New York Times discussed Russia's greatest problem in Syria, which was its ally, President Assad. The article delved into the challenges faced by Russia in managing its relationship with the Syrian regime and the implications for the future of the conflict.
The Atlantic Council examined the trail of broken ceasefires in Syria, emphasizing the difficulties in achieving a lasting peace due to the multitude of actors involved and their conflicting interests.
Atlantic Council also analyzed how Russia profited from its military support to President Assad, revealing the economic motivations behind Russia's involvement in the conflict.
RFERL interviewed Vagner commanders, providing insights into the life of Russian mercenaries and their experiences on the ground in Syria.
In March 2018, VOA News reported that Russia and the U.S. managed to avoid a second confrontation in Syria, highlighting the delicate balance and potential for further escalation in the region.
The Washington Post warned that Russia's attempt to limit its casualties in Syria could have negative consequences for Syrian civilians, raising concerns about the impact of Russia's military strategy on the civilian population.
The events from January to March 2018 highlighted the ongoing complexities and conflicts in the Syrian war, the involvement of various actors, and the challenges faced in achieving a resolution to the conflict.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 1, 2023
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Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria Part 13 (January 2018 - March 2018):
A Russian Blackwater? Putin’s Secret Soldiers in Ukraine and Syria - Daily Beast January 2, 2018
Russia Has Been Stalking US in Skies Over Syria, General Says - Military.com January 4, 2018
Russia presses EU to pay up for rebuilding Syria - Financial Times January 9, 2018
A swarm of armed drones attacked a Russian military base in Syria - CNBC January 11, 2018
Russia has fooled the U.S. again in Syria | Opinion - The Washington Post January 11, 2018
Why Russia refuses to give refugee status to Syrians - Al Jazeera January 17, 2018
What Kind of Victory for Russia in Syria? - Military Review January 24, 2018
Forces hit by U.S. in Syria included Russian mercenaries, official says - CBS News February 8, 2018
U.S. Says It Notified Russia Before Massive Attack On Pro-Syria Forces - RFERL February 8, 2018
Report: U.S. forces killed scores of Russian mercenaries in Syria - AXIOS February 13, 2018
US forces reportedly killed more than 100 Russian mercenaries inside Syria - Vox February 13, 2018
Russian mother grieves for son killed by US strike in Syria - AP News February 15, 2018
Russia says U.S. airstrike killed 5 of its civilians in Syria - NBC News | AP News February 15, 2018
Don't Be Fooled: Russia Attacked U.S. Troops in Syria | Opinion - Bloomberg February 16, 2018
Putin’s Shadow Army Suffers a Setback in Syria - The New Yorker February 16, 2018
These 5 Proxy Battles Are Making Syria's Civil War Increasingly Complicated - TIME February 16, 2018
The oil field carnage that Moscow doesn’t want to talk about - CNN February 18, 2018
The oil field carnage that Moscow doesn’t want to talk about - CNN February 18, 2018
Russia stumbles in the fog of Syrian war - BROOKINGS February 21, 2018
Syria war: Who are Russia's shadowy Wagner mercenaries? - BBC News February 23, 2018
The business of war: Russian mercenaries in Syria - France 24 February 23, 2018
Putin’s true victory in Syria isn’t over ISIS | OP-ED - BROOKINGS February 26, 2018
Russia plays 'destabilizing' role in Syria: US - DW February 27, 2018
The Truth About the Russian Deaths in Syria - SPIEGEL International March 2, 2018
White House accuses Russia of killing civilians in Syria - Reuters March 4, 2018
Russia may have committed war crime in Syria: UN investigators - ABC News March 7, 2018
Russia’s Greatest Problem in Syria: Its Ally, President Assad - The New York Times March 8, 2018
A Trail of Broken Ceasefires in Syria - Atlantic Council March 9, 2018
Russia Makes a Killing off its Military Support to Assad - Atlantic Council March 12, 2018
Russia, US Avoid Second Confrontation in Syria - VOA News March 27, 2018