Putin's Gamble: Syria Move Born of Hopes of Coming in From Cold

When Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces seemed on the verge of losing control of the capital over the summer, Vladimir Putin saw an opportunity.

Encouraged by hardliners in his inner circle, the Russian president sensed not only a chance for the Kremlin to shore up its last remaining ally in the Middle East, at least temporarily. He also saw a way to muscle his way out of the isolation he faced following the Ukraine crisis, re-asserting the nation’s role as a global power, senior Russian officials said. Putin’s audacious military move could shift the conversation away from the conflict in Ukraine to Russia’s ability to help stem the flow of refugees from Syria now flooding Europe and possibly lead to an easing of sanctions.