Uniformed Russian soldiers are now guarding checkpoints on roads around three military bases on the Syrian Mediterranean coast as Moscow plans its first attacks on the enemies of President Bashar al-Assad.
Russian drones – more than half flown by Russian ground controllers inside Syria – are now flying regularly over Palmyra, which may be the first Islamist target to be attacked, according to Syrian military sources. The Syrian army is reporting a vastly improved intelligence capability around the old Roman city, captured by Isis in May and used as an execution yard for civilians and captured government soldiers. Drones are being flown at night over the Isis-controlled deserts of eastern Syria.
Syrian troops are planning to recapture Palmyra if Russian aircraft can do sufficient damage to Isis around the city – perhaps within the next three weeks – but Syrian diplomats have been told by the Russians that Moscow’s actions depend on reaction to the speech which President Vladimir Putin makes at the United Nations on 28 September . Mr Putin is expected to present himself as the leader most capable of destroying Isis after the failure of the US and other western nations.