In the wake of a 2011 uprising backed by the West, Turkey and Gulf Arab states, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appealed to Russia and Iran to support his embattled armed forces against rebels and jihadi groups, which have mostly been defeated. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Assad on his victoriesduring a meeting Friday in Sochi and said … Continue reading Iran Goes Against Russia, Says It’s Staying in Syria as U.S. Military Threatens ‘New Actions’