Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria - Part 4 (November 2015 - December 2015)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria - Part 4 (November 2015 - December 2015)
“U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivers remarks on the UN Security Council's vote on Syria on December 18, 2015, at the United Nations in New York City, NY” under public domain by Secretary Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Address the Press of the U.S. Department of State.
In November 2015, tensions continued to rise between the United States and Russia over their respective roles in the Syrian conflict. The two countries' fighter jets engaged in a series of test flights to ensure safety protocols were in place. Meanwhile, Russia's military presence in Syria grew to around 4,000 troops, causing concern among U.S. officials.
Amidst these developments, a Russian plane crashed in the Sinai Peninsula, prompting speculation about whether it was caused by a bomb. This incident posed a dilemma for Russian President Vladimir Putin on how to respond if it was indeed an act of terrorism.
As the conflict in Syria intensified, Russia employed a strategy of "hybrid warfare," combining conventional military tactics with information warfare. This approach aimed to demonstrate Russia's military prowess and assert its influence in the region.
France joined the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria by conducting airstrikes on IS targets. However, disagreements emerged between France and Russia regarding the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Competing draft resolutions at the United Nations reflected divisions on how to combat IS effectively.
On November 24, 2015, a major incident occurred when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syria-Turkey border. This incident strained relations between Russia and NATO, raising tensions in the region. The pilot of the downed aircraft claimed that Turkey had given no warning before firing.
Russia responded to this incident by deploying the S-400 anti-aircraft system in Syria, sending a robust signal of its military capabilities. However, reports began to emerge suggesting that Russian airstrikes were causing civilian casualties and disproportionately harming non-ISIS targets.
In December 2015, the situation in Syria remained complicated. Amnesty International released a report revealing that ISIS was armed with U.S. weapons, raising concerns about the unintended consequences of providing support to opposition groups.
Putin made several admissions about Russia's goals in Syria, including supporting the Free Syrian Army and using Syria as a training ground for Russia's revamped military. However, the effectiveness of Russia's airstrikes came into question, with little progress observed on the ground.
Throughout November and December, Russia faced criticism for its extensive use of cluster munitions and indiscriminate attacks in Syria, despite guarantees of avoiding such actions. Despite these criticisms, the United States assessed that the costs of Russia's intervention in Syria were bearable, and Russia appeared to be achieving its key goals.
As 2015 drew to a close, the conflict in Syria persisted, with no clear resolution in sight. The international community grappled with the need for diplomacy and de-escalation in the face of ongoing violence and the complex dynamics of the Syrian war.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on May 31, 2023
Previous: Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria Part 3 (October 2015)
Next: Profile in Focus | Russia in Syria Part 5 (January 2016 - March 2016)
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Putin Is A War Criminal
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 4 (November 2015 - December 2015):
DoD: No US-Russia Joint Exercise; Russia Opens New Syrian Base - NBC News November 3, 2015
Fact-Checking Russia's Claim that It Didn't Bomb a Hospital in Syria - Bellingcat November 4, 2015
Russia's Syria force grows to 4,000, U.S. officials say - Reuters November 4, 2015
Putin's Dilemma: How To Respond If A Bomb Caused Sinai Air Crash - RFERL November 5, 2015
Activist Says Russia Using 'Hybrid Warfare' In Syria - RFERL November 11, 2015
French Fighter Jets Hit IS Targets in Syria - VOA News November 15, 2015
Bosnia Was Hard, Syria Is Harder | Commentary - RAND Corporation November 16, 2015
The U.S. plan to counter Russia in Syria - BROOKINGS November 17, 2015
Russian airstrikes blast ISIS oil facilities in Syria - CBS News November 20, 2015
Labour will consider Syria air strike proposals - Reuters November 21, 2015
Russian and Iranian leaders discuss Syria in Tehran - Al Jazeera November 23, 2015
Kremlin: Putin, Khamenei Agree On Syria - RFERL November 23, 2015
Turkey shoots down Russian warplane on Syria border - BBC News November 24, 2015
The War in Syria and the Russian Jet - The New Yorker November 24, 2015
Verifying Video of a Dead Russian Pilot in Syria - Bellingcat November 24, 2015
NATO-Russia Tensions Rise After Turkey Downs Jet - The New York Times November 25, 2015
Russia Deploys S-400 Anti-aircraft System in Syria - HAARETZ November 26, 2015
Report: Russian strikes kill civilians in Syria - DW November 29, 2015
Russian Airstrikes in Syria Seem to Be Hurting Civilians More Than ISIS - TIME November 30, 2015
Russia S-400 Syria missile deployment sends robust signal - BBC News December 1, 2015
Syria: The Need for Diplomacy and De-escalation - Council on Foreign Relations December 7, 2015
Amnesty report: ISIS armed with U.S. weapons - CNN December 8, 2015
Putin bogging down in Syria - POLITICO December 10, 2015
Putin: Russia Has Supported Free Syrian Army - VOA News December 11, 2015
Obama again gets the last laugh against Putin - MSNBC December 11, 2014
The view from Hmeymim airbase, staging ground for Russia’s war in Syria - CNN December 16, 2015
U.S. sees bearable costs, key goals met for Russia in Syria so far - Reuters December 28, 2015