The $70 Billion ex-KGB agent and the head choppers working for Assad will likely only fortify the Alawite homeland of Latakia, Assad has been nothing but a lackey for ISIS and now Putin is going the same direction.
I would agree with you about the first part. I look at it as a military necessity. If one looks at a map of Syria and where Russian and Syrian Army forces are located they are in the west and essentially surrounded by "moderate" forces.
Now, if I was the Russian commander (putting on my armchair general cap for a moment) after securing the airport in Latakia and others I sure would be bombing those forces that I know are not my allies that are in close proximity in order to secure and fortify my position.
But people will say, "That ain't ISIS. That's FSA, Jabhat al-Nusra, Army of Conquest, etc." Well that's based on a Putin' political decision that Assad stays and therefore they are the enemy. and I'd say they're not bad enemies to have. Why would I ignore Al Qaeda and their affiliated band of head choppers?
And I suspect the upcoming Syrian Army offensive (with their Hezbollah and IRGC allies) will mirror that same strategy. Word is it's already begun in Homs and Idlib.
I would even agree whatever strikes Russia has done against ISIS in Raqqa are token strikes to placate the international community. But they say their air offensive will last 3-4 months. We're 4 days in. We'll just have to wait and see what develops.