Syria’s fracturing conflict escalates as Russia and Iran face higher costs

TUNIS - Syria’s northern theatre illustrates the risks involved in the fracturing of the 7-year-old conflict that has defied all international attempts to stop the bloodshed.

In Afrin, and elsewhere in Syria, pulling the strings of the war seems to have come with a higher cost than anticipated by Moscow and Tehran.

Supporting the Assad regime’s scorched-earth campaign in Eastern Ghouta has painted Russia into a diplomatic corner with Moscow having to justify its partnership with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Russia is sensitive to perceptions of its role in the conflict. Its image as unchallenged victor in the war against terror has been eroding as pictures of the horrors of Eastern Ghouta shock the world.

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