So in the war between Sunnis and Shias, the Russians support the Shias?
To what advantage is it of their?
Saudis are Sunnis and Saudi Arabia is pumping so much oil they have damaged Russia’s economy. Saudi wants the Russians out of Syria. The Russians are punishing the Saudis back. Iran is Shia. Iran is a huge arms customer of Russia’s.
Saudi Arabia backed the revolution hoping to overthrow Assad so they could install a friendly government that would allow them to run a pipeline to the Mediterranean. Once Iran goes nuclear it’s unlikely they’ll let the Saudis ship oil through the Straits of Hormuz. Iran also has an estimated 50,000 mines which could shut off the Red Sea. Once they have nukes they can pretty much do whatever the heck they want. The most we’ll do is send a strongly worded letter.
Russian goals in the ME are coincident with Iran but not identical. Russia is broke. They are looking for Middle Eastern dollars to line their pockets. At the same time they get to stick a finger in the eye of the US and will end up with basing in Syria.
For their part Iran exerts influence in the ME, cranks up shia terrorism against us and Israel and sends petrodollars north.
Assad remains in power beholding to both Russia and Iran whose spheres of influence increase while the US is marginalized and Iran tamps down Russia’s Muslim problem.
Big win for Putin and shia nuts.