Eric R. Mandel
Jerusalem Post, Feb. 3, 2022
“Once ISIS was subdued, the interests of Iran, Syria, and Russia began to diverge. Although Iran and Russia remain simpatico in their desire to embarrass and chase the US out of the Middle East, their next steps and aspirations don’t necessarily mesh.”
Why would Iran want to incite Israel to strike Russian personnel or facilities in Syria? To answer that question, we need to understand the evolution of Iranian and Russian interests in Syria, which have diverged over time. Today’s post-war situation in Syria is very different from just a few years ago when Assad was hanging by a thread for his survival. At that time, Russian and Iranian interests aligned in their shared desire to defeat ISIS and prop up the Syrian dictator.
The writer is director of MEPIN (Middle East Political Information Network). He regularly briefs members of Congress and their foreign policy aides. He is the senior security editor for The Jerusalem Report.
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