US officials estimate that Russia has dispatched tanks and artillery to Syria in recent weeks in a reported military build-up, raising concerns that Moscow is embarking upon an extensive mission to bolster President Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime and establish a substantial Russian military presence in the Middle East. The build-up comes amid an intensive Russian diplomatic drive in Syria.
Recent attempts to revive the UN-backed Geneva peace process will stumble due to the lack of US-Russian and Saudi-Iranian unanimity.
Russia will use its influence over Assad as a bargaining chip in its stand-off with the United States and Europe.
Hezbollah and Tehran will be emboldened by Moscow's solid backing of the Assad regime.
However, this may also complicate Russia's ties with the Gulf states, Turkey and Israel.
