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The outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 posed a significant threat to these interests. The conflict raised alarms about the potential for radicalized fighters emerging from Russia's own Muslim-majority regions, prompting a closer examination of Russia's strategic interests.
In a pivotal turn of events in 2015, Russia opened a military airbase near Latakia and commenced airstrikes aimed at supporting the Assad regime. While Moscow publicly justified its military action as a campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS), reports indicated that most strikes primarily targeted opposition-held territories instead.