The Russians are seizing a rare strategic opportunity. They realize that the ISIL fighters are dangerously overextended. They have Hezbollah fighters and Syrian air harrassing their rear and strafing their supply convoys. Fierce Kurd who will hold and are anxious to seize more territory are on their center flank. The Iraqi army bolstered by enthusiastic Shi’ite militia are stopping their advance outside of Baghdad. The Russians know that with strategic leadership, logistics and coordination, a counterattack would put the ISIL fighters in a vise. Given their barbaric behavior and the customs of the region , they would be slaughtered mercilessly. Russia has a strong national interest to see ISIL destroyed. If Syria comes under the rule if fundamentalist Muslims, it will become a haven and a base for the jihadists who are causing mayhem in southern Russia. Putin is not playing checkers.
A Russian flag soon over the Baghdad embassy we paid 750 million to build? Nothing would surprise me anymore.