Last week, five Russians were likely killed in a US-led coalition bombing on pro-regime Syrian fighters, the Russian government said. A few days later, Israel lost an F-16 warplane in reprisal attacks against Syrian and Iranian military targets after intercepting an alleged Iranian drone. UN ambassador Nikki Haley said peace “is urgent” in Syria, then blamed Iran for its role in the violence. This can serve as “leverage to obtain a peace accord in Syria at a time when lines are beginning to move,” said Delattre. Due to this tension, NATO strategic interests are now affected by how the balance of power in the Syrian war evolves.

Source: Manila Times February 17, 2018 16:07 UTC