Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract   Russia has been taking a position against military interventions in other countries and has been supporter of territorial integrity of the sovereign states, now the question is that which interests have let the country to initiate a military operation in Syria. The authors have chosen the following reasons to illustrate the new Russian policy in this regard: the Russian Federation needs to prove itself as a very powerful actor in its own security environment; the Syria, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon Hezbollah axis should be supported at the regional level; and finally the extremist Islamic groups activities in Northern Caucasia should be prevented.