Russia has increased its presence in Syria seemingly out of nowhere. Starting in early September, Russian moved tank landing ships, aircrafts, and 150,000 infantry forces into Syria. Russia has been allies with Syria since the Cold War. Russia is likely there to prop up the struggling Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. Syria has not only been tormented by ISIS, but a civil war has caused Assad to lose most of his power. Russia claims to be in Syria only to help the world deal with ISIS, which would be great if Russian airstrikes didn’t target areas with no known ISIS activity. Syria is in an outstanding strategical position if Russia ever wanted to attack Turkey. If Russia ever did attack Turkey, they could obtain a flanking position on Ukraine, who has access to Crimea, a region coveted by Russia. Russia has given over $4 billion to Syria in the form of advanced weapon technology and military training. In return, Syria has allowed Russia to establish multiple military bases. Russian aircrafts have operated at a higher elevation when performing airstrikes in order to avoid fire from Syrian rebels. Russia plans on not only continue with their airstrikes, but increase their intensity to defeat the Syrian rebels. Airstrikes aren’t the only form of support Russia is giving Syria. Warships in the Caspian sea have been firing cruise missiles into Syria as well. 15% of these missiles however, landed in Iran. Syria’s surrounding countries have been negotiating with Western powers and Syrian rebels to ensure their safety from any possibility of Russian and/or Syrian attacks. The United States hasn’t made any major announcements regarding the situation, but a conflict was avoided in early October. A U.S. aircraft flying over Syria had to be rerouted after becoming somewhat close to a Russian aircraft. If the two had collided, the Syrian situation may look a lot more bleak. Several scenarios remain unanswered. Will the Syrian rebels take advantage of the airstrikes to regain territory? How will Vladimir Putin act at the G20 summit in mid-November? Will Russian airstrikes help counteract ISIS? Will Assad be asserted as a powerful leader of a powerful nation?