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Significance
The Russian air campaign has mostly targeted rebels fighting against the Syrian regime rather than Islamic State group (ISG), a significant setback for President Barack Obama's Syria policy.
Impacts
Washington may see geopolitical dividends should Russia's military intervention become bogged down into an embarrassing stalemate.
US inaction will encourage Saudi Arabia and Iran to escalate their own intervention in Syria and elsewhere in the region.
Saudi-Iranian relations will play a greater role in a political settlement on Syria than those between Washington and Moscow.
Keywords:
United States,
NA,
Russia,
Syria,
Iran,
Iraq,
Saudi Arabia,
Ukraine,
US/RUSSIA,
international relations,
politics,
civil war,
defence,
foreign policy,
guerrillas,
military,
opposition,
party,
rebellion,
sanctions,
security,
talks,
terrorism,
war
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2015
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