Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War

According to an article published in Bloomberg on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering to launch unilateral airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) from inside Syria if the US rejects his proposal for joint military action.

However Putin expressed preference for a joint action between Russia, Iran, the Syrian army and the US-led international coalition.

Syria said on Sept.22 it has received sophisticated new arms from Russia, including warplanes, and deployed them against jihadists, amid signs Moscow is readying a direct role in its ally's war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at a time when Moscow is boosting its support for the Syrian government, much to the chagrin of Ankara.

However, Syria is not the sole issue on the leaders? agenda, with a pipeline project being another hot matter. 

It was mid-July this year when senior American officials described a deal between Ankara and Washington over the former?s full and active participation in the international coalition?s fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), opening its most strategic bases to coalition countries as a ?game changer?

The Russian Embassy in Damascus, Syria has come under mortar fire, stated the Russian Foreign Ministry Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the attack on the diplomatic mission, while it called on the international community to take a clear standpoint on ‘this terrorist act.

Turkey has been more outspoken on Russia's moves to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, warning that militarily backing his regime risks further hampering efforts of peace on the eve of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's key visit to Moscow Sept. 23.

Syria predicted Sept. 20 that Russia's growing military role will prove a game changer in the fight against jihadists, as 75 rebels trained under a beleaguered US programme entered the fray.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlio?lu held a phone conversation on late Sept. 18, following the latter's talks in Russia on the Syrian crisis. President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an also will pay visit to Moscow this week, as the international community accelerates efforts to find a settlement in Syria with Moscow's cooperation. 

It?s true: There is no military solution (or quick fix) to the Syrian crisis. In order to end the bloodshed, parties have to reach a political settlement. However, what determines the bargaining power of the players at the negotiation table is their relative positions on the ground.

Moscow said on Sept.18 it would consider any request from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to send troops, as Washington frets over an alleged Russian military buildup in the war-torn country.