Publication

This paper discusses the strategic reasoning behind Russia's military support of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria's ongoing civil war. The author contends that rather than simply wishing to prop up the al‐Assad regime, the Kremlin is concerned that if the minorities of the Levant — Alawites, Maronites, Druze, and Jews are overwhelmed by Jihadist Islam, then there will be nothing to prevent Jihadist ideology and violence spreading into Europe, including Russia.