That’s an element of which I was unaware. So they must intend to weigh in heavily for Assad, and are sending refurbished old choppers simply because they’re cheap.
Those are refurbished Syrian helos that were bought from the Russians years ago and are being returned. Like sending a suit out to the cleaners.
The Russians are clearly in Al-Assad’s court but see him losing the eventual battle. The Russians are snooping around the Med for another deep warm-water port.