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Proud to co-author this extensive piece on Russia's campaign in Syria: https://www.csis.org/analysis/moscows-war-syria
What did we learn about Russia? Thread:
(1/10)
What did we learn about Russia? Thread:
(1/10)
1) Russian operational art:
Moscow leveraged air assets, UAVs, civil-mil units (mil. police & “reconciliation” centers), special operations forces, and informational assets. This approach reflected an emerging concept that Gerasimov termed the “strategy of limited actions"
2/10
Moscow leveraged air assets, UAVs, civil-mil units (mil. police & “reconciliation” centers), special operations forces, and informational assets. This approach reflected an emerging concept that Gerasimov termed the “strategy of limited actions"
2/10
2) Russian warfighting:
Russia improved its employment of forces in an expeditionary manner & used its naval forces to protect maritime resupply. Russia developed advanced C3I field systems on the battlefield, providing data to enable a higher throughput of airstrikes.
3/10
Russia improved its employment of forces in an expeditionary manner & used its naval forces to protect maritime resupply. Russia developed advanced C3I field systems on the battlefield, providing data to enable a higher throughput of airstrikes.
3/10
3) Indiscriminate targeting:
Russia not only sought to eliminate the Syrian regime’s armed opposition, but it also used punishment to escalate the costs to the population and undermine support for the opposition.
4/10
Russia not only sought to eliminate the Syrian regime’s armed opposition, but it also used punishment to escalate the costs to the population and undermine support for the opposition.
4/10
4) Laboratory for military leadership experience:
Russia continually rotated mid- to senior-level
leadership to the Syrian theater of operations. Officers
received valuable experience on the ground in advisory
or leadership roles.
5/10
Russia continually rotated mid- to senior-level
leadership to the Syrian theater of operations. Officers
received valuable experience on the ground in advisory
or leadership roles.
5/10
5) Russia's influence in the MENA region:
The Russian intervention in Syria demonstrated that Russia is now willing to use force—albeit limited—outside of its traditional and immediate area to achieve its strategic interests.
6/10
The Russian intervention in Syria demonstrated that Russia is now willing to use force—albeit limited—outside of its traditional and immediate area to achieve its strategic interests.
6/10
6) Deconfliction:
Russia generally respected U.S. military power, complying w/ U.S. directives about deconfliction lines when the directives were backed up by demonstrations of force. However, when the U.S. did not back up these statements, Russia often exploited the gap.
7/10
Russia generally respected U.S. military power, complying w/ U.S. directives about deconfliction lines when the directives were backed up by demonstrations of force. However, when the U.S. did not back up these statements, Russia often exploited the gap.
7/10
7) Deterrence:
In the future, if the United States attempts to deter or coerce Russia or one of its partners through diplomatic, economic, or military measures, it must clearly articulate where the line is and be prepared to follow through on its threat.
8/10
In the future, if the United States attempts to deter or coerce Russia or one of its partners through diplomatic, economic, or military measures, it must clearly articulate where the line is and be prepared to follow through on its threat.
8/10
8) Diplomacy:
Two aspects that distinguished Russian diplomacy from U.S. diplomacy was the uniformity among Russian political and diplomatic leaders and the seamless nature in which Russian diplomacy complemented military operations on the ground.
9/10
Two aspects that distinguished Russian diplomacy from U.S. diplomacy was the uniformity among Russian political and diplomatic leaders and the seamless nature in which Russian diplomacy complemented military operations on the ground.
9/10
Last, a special thanks to all the folks who made this piece better: @AlexFriedland @CatrinaDoxsee @GracieEHwang @gringa @Jacob_A_Ware. Reviewers: Sam Charap & Michael Kofman. And other folks: @kath_hicks, Heather Conley, Jeff Mankoff. And the CSIS Ideas Lab.
10/10
10/10
