In their internal news they are saying it is to help protect Christian minorities. Seems the rebels like to kill the local Christian population.
Honestly, I don’t want the US involved in anyway. Russia has bases in Syria that are under increasing pressure from both sides. It is in their sphere of influence, let them have some fun nation building.
They may be doing just as stated. In my feeble mind I have a hard time figuring out who the good guys and the bad guys are.
If, as the news stories suggest, that it is the Assad government committing the atrocities who are they killing? Muslims or Christians or Rebels?
If the Russians have bases in Syria who are they allied with? Assad?
Like all things Arab it is confused and confusing... once Muslim sect against the other and then subfactions fighting within a sect. The Christians are caught somewhere... not the middle because both sides of the muslims target Christians as targets of opportunity don’t they?
The bottom line of this for me is it is a Syria event and for any power other than Syria or the UN to become involved is provocative.