MIN READMar 15, 2016 | 20:31 GMT

A Jaish al-Islam fighter takes cover in Jobar, a neighborhood in the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on March 14.

(AMER ALMOHIBANY/AFP/Getty Images)

Pursuing its critical interests in Syria, Russia has played a key part in stabilizing the military situation in Syria in favor of Damascus. Aided also by expanded support from Iran, loyalist forces have switched from defense to offense in 2016. And though loyalist forces have not been able to defeat the rebels or retake a decisive amount of territory since the Russian intervention, it is clear they have the military advantage....