Russian presence in Syria bound to invite jihadists

Russian cruise missiles flew over Iran and Iraq, two Muslim states, to hit 26 Daesh targets in Syria.

The land-attack cruise missiles, with a maximum range of 2,500 kilometres, sent a message to Washington that Moscow creates more facts on the ground as a basis for any future political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Turkey and the Arab Gulf states, which financed and equipped the Free Syrian Army, are angry that Iran and Russian President Vladimir Putin proved how well they can dictate the course of events in our region, rather than Washington or the European Union.

Russia is keener to serve its interests in the Mediterranean strategic bases of Tartus and Latakia than on propping up Syrian President Bashar Assad, who might be replaced by General Ali Mamlouk, head of intelligence, as part of a final political solution expected within the coming four months.

Russian bombing runs and missile hits were not confined to Daesh targets. Many of the anti-Assad groups were hit as well, which exposes the real purpose of the Russian move: to establish its territorial imperative as a regional player in the Middle East.

Those tactics forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fly to Moscow, and ask Putin for arrangements when Israeli air force hits Hizbollah strongholds in the Golan Heights, or targets Iranian missile convoys heading to Lebanon via Syria.

Within the next few weeks, we might witness a dramatic change in the war theatre in Syria since three opposition groups have sent emissaries to many countries to buy anti-tank weapons as well as surface-to-air missiles.

The Free Syrian Army, Al Fateh Army and the Southern Syrian Front are all moderate Syrian Sunni opposition groups with highly qualified military officers, that can tip the balance of military power in Syria when the new missiles reach them.

Many jihadists in the Arab world were wondering who to join out of the 40 groups claiming to be motivated by the same creeds.

Now, jihadists view the Russian presence in Syria as occupation of a Muslim territory, which makes travel to Syria an obligatory command ordered by the Koran.

Thousands of young Indonesian, African, East Asian and Arab Muslims can be expected to soon flock, in a new migration, to fight the new occupation of another Muslim country.

The American actions in 2003 generated so much chaos in Iraq and all neighbouring countries; the new Russian move will eventually lead to similar catastrophic impact for the whole region.