Russian “volunteers” to fight in Syria
Russian announced it would send “volunteer” ground troops to fight in Syria. This suggests that the Syrian army is far weaker than thought. Look for Iran to match this move, if they haven’t done so already. Earlier reports of Iranian ground troops have not panned out.
Unless the ground troops are simply to bolster defenses around Russian bases along the coast, this seems like a blunder.
Back and forth on Russian incursions into Turkish airspace
Turkey claims that Russian jets operating from Syria have violated its airspace and locked their radar onto Turkish F-16s. Russia is probing the response from these provocations toward a NATO member.
Syrian rebel groups call for unity against Russia and Iran
After several day of bombing, it has become clear that the principal targets are not ISIL, as Moscow claimed, but the rebel groups. These groups are calling for a unified response. Unity isn’t very likely at all, but look of them to attempt to strike Russian bases in Latakia and Tartus, along Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
Israel to speed up demolition of homes related to Palestinian fighters
This comes as tensions and killings have picked up over the last month or so. It will likely worsen matters and the Likud knows it. There are members of Netanyahu’s government, though, he feel he isn’t doing enough. Watch for the response from the Palestinian Authority. Iranian media are reporting the results of a poll that show great concern among Palestinians that the al Aqsa mosque may be destroyed by Israeli forces.