Source: Arab News:
Coming 52 days before the inauguration of Trump, the reshaping of Syria’s military landscape is also a strong signal to the new White House.
Bahout said that a “most probable calculus in Russia’s mind was that a substantial Aleppo gain was needed at all costs before the new US administration is sworn in regardless of the name of the winner.”
Moscow is seeking a “new fait accompli that would strengthen its position on the negotiating table,” Bahout added. With Trump winning following a campaign of friendly gestures to Russian President Vladimir Putin and promises of a “different approach” on Syria, Moscow “is preparing the ground for a much more ‘friendly’ negotiation with the new administration,” contends Bahout.
Replicating Aleppo in Raqqa or Idlib by joining forces with Washington against Daesh or Nusra could be on Russia’s bucket-list proposals for the new US President, says Bahout. The idea is not too far-fetched for Trump, who just last October said “I don’t like Assad at all, but Assad is killing ISIS, Russia is killing ISIS and Iran is killing ISIS.”
Militarily, Schneider says that “once Aleppo is secured, a confident Bashar Assad may well consider himself safely on the path to overall victory.” He expects the regime “to refocus its attention on the rebel-held towns of Douma and Al-Tall, just outside of Damascus to further consolidate his hold on ‘useful Syria’.”
Categories: Americas