Saqr believes neither Russia nor Iran wanted to heavily intervene in this battle, but Assad told him that Putin had instructed his chief of staff to get ready to support any transport needed for Iran at Russia’s Hmeimim base in Latakia.
“But what happened was that the Iranians told Bashar al-Assad, ‘we did not receive any signals to proceed with moving Iranian aircraft to the Hmeimim base [or to] fly through Iraqi airspace to land at the base,’” Saqr told Mazeej.
“The question was relayed to Moscow, but no answer came.”
When asked whether this was a “trick by Putin”, Saqr said there was “no other explanation”.
Ding ding ding, we have a winner! That’s exactly the reason to keep Assad alive and in relative comfort. Just as enemies and “traitors” of Russia get spicy tea and fall out of windows, allies are cared for even if they lose power