Russia President Vladimir Putin's sudden escalation of airstrikes inside Syria is forcing the world to confront his latest military adventure, against a backdrop of deep distrust over whether defeating the Islamic State is his only goal.
While the U.S. and its allies want to see the extremists crushed, Putin's actions — the U.S. said he bombed an area where the terror group doesn't operate — fueled fears that he really just wants to prop up ally President Bashar Assad, who Western leaders say should step aside. It also raises the odds of high-stakes accidents as Russian and U.S. jets share the same air space but potentially different missions.
"If it is a prelude to a diplomatic process that maybe even makes Russia more willing to assist in a transition then it could have even a positive aspect," said Philip Gordon, a former White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf Region. "Anytime you are introducing military forces into a war zone, it's potentially dangerous."