If United States leadership intent was having a footprint in Iraq only and having Russia protecting Israelis boarders in Syria than the mission has been accomplished.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday pledged to continue military support for Syrian leader Bashar Assad after Washington sounded the alarm over an alleged military build-up by Moscow in the war-torn country.”

“We support the government of Syria in its fight against terrorist aggression, we provide and will go on providing it with all necessary military assistance,” Putin said at a regional security conference in ex-Soviet Tajikistan.”

“A U.S. military official told AFP Monday that Russia has sent artillery units and seven tanks to a Syrian air base as part of moves to boost its military presence there.”

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Sep-15/315299-putin-pledges-to-keep-up-military-support-for-assad.ashx#.Vfj2_Xek-ow.facebook