Under Putin, Russia Increases Clout in the Middle East
(WorldNews Turkey)

MOSCOW (AP) - When Russia launched a military campaign in Syria two years ago, President Vladimir Putin sought to save his ally from imminent collapse and break Russia´s international isolation over a crisis in Ukraine. He achieved that and more, emerging as a key stakeholder in the Middle East who has brokered deals with many of its key players - from Iran to Saudi Arabia to Turkey and Israel. It´s a regional footprint that comes with a degree of clout that even the Soviet Union, which depended on a handful of Arab allies, couldn´t dream of during the Cold War era. And it was accomplished with limited resources and a lot of audacity. `Vladimir Putin is determined to restore a greater role...