We all know what's gone down over the past few years, but things may be changing. The Russians have realised they can do what they want now (because what, we might put sanctions on them?) and have tipped a load of equipment, experts, and even complete bases into Syrian government strongholds. By all accounts the Syrians are loving this new equipment, and some Russian foreign affairs bod has claimed that the Chinese have sent a cruiser to join the anti-ISIS campaign with an aircraft carrier to follow. If that is true, then lol at whatever it is we've been trying to achieve there.