Research Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS) Strategic Studies Quarterly 1735-0727 19 73 2016 10 22 The Causes and motivations of the Russian military operation in Syria The Causes and motivations of the Russian military operation in Syria 115 136 41428 FA Elaheh Koolaye Mohammad Soltaninejad Journal Article 2016 10 03   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.     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.   https://quarterly.risstudies.org/article_41428_35b1120b266bba424223325f1e53efa4.pdf