The US attack on an airfield believed to have been used by Syrian President Bashar Assad‘s military to launch a deadly chemical-weapons attack early last week has given Russia a renewed purpose for staying mired in a war that remains popular at home while allowing Moscow to paint itself as a foil to US „aggression.“

It has also allowed US President Donald Trump to deflect criticism that he is overly beholden to Russia and insensitive to Assad‘s brutal, scorched-earth campaign against Syrian civilians and rebel groups.