Russia's Reluctant Retreat from the Middle East The news of Russia's plans to downsize its military presence in Syria has sparked debate about the country's long term strategy in the region.
Analysts argue that Moscow is not withdrawing, but rather shifting gears and adopting a more nuanced approach to maintaining influence without shouldering the costs of occupation.
For years, Russia was a dominant force in Syrian politics, propping up Bashar al Assad's regime alongside Iran and its proxies with around 100 military facilities scattered across the country.