According to Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, the first estimates of the results of the Russia-Turkey joint airstrikes in Syria suggest that they have been highly effective.
RIA Novosti has interviewed a number of Russia's military and defense analysts to learn what could be the reasons for Turkey to seek cooperation with Russia against Daesh in Syria.
"It is a serious breakthrough which demonstrates a real start for Turkey's fight against Daesh in Syria," Russia's defense analyst, chief editor of the Russian magazine National Defense Igor Korotchenko told RIA Novosti.
He further suggested that the joint operation also demonstrates the level of trust in the relationship between Moscow and Ankara, as well as efficient cooperation between Russian and Turkish general staffs.
He also suggested that it might become a prologue to the complete liquidation of the terrorist groups in Syria. This would pave the way to the negotiation of a political resolution between recognized factions in the country at the upcoming peace talks in Astana.
"There were reports that Russian warplanes have been conducting airstrikes…on behalf of the Turkish armed forces and their allies operating in Aleppo," he said.
"And now they have reached a new level of joint military operations between the Russian Aerospace Forces and Turkish Air Force," he suggested.
Meanwhile Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, the President of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies and former head of the main department of international military cooperation of the Russian Defense Ministry (1996-2001) has suggested that Ankara may have learned serious lessons, and is no longer pursuing direct or indirect cooperation with extremist groups in Syria.
"I regard it as a positive step, as Turkey, at one point, contributed a lot to the initiationg of the so-called "civil" war in Syria. Ankara might have realized that those terrorists whom it had previously armed and sponsored have come back to it like a boomerang. Hence the Turks have started realizing that it is more effective to work with Russia and Iran, to be able to secure its own territory," he said.
"Russia is also working with Iraq and Egypt, hence this Arab core will continue to consolidate around Russia," he concluded.
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