Telling like it is yo
"Putin needs Syria to remain in friendly hands to prevent the pipeline built from Saudi Arabia to Turkey and into Europe that will replace Russian oil/gas. The US could ship it to Europe but it would be much cheaper to send it through a pipeline. Who do you think is funding the anti-Assad (not ISIS) rebels that Russia is fighting against? The Saudi's and Qatari's are because they benefit financially from the pipeline that has to move through Syria. Russia could care less about ISIS at present and are only concerned with the rebels closest to Damascus who are threatening to overthrow Assad. If ISIS remains in the north it will guarantee the pipeline won't be built through their territory which is why Putin could care less about them. The fact that Putin is lying to the Russian people about what he's doing should make his real reasons very clear if you're willing to open your eyes. If the oil/gas Russia sells to Europe is replaced by ME oil/gas the Russian economy would collapse and Putin knows this."