fifteen since then the syrian government has managed to recover lost territory with the aid of russian airstrikes putin wants to strengthen russia's military presence in the region reduce american influence and keep radical islamists of power the russian air station near latakia is now a permanent fixture on the tartars marine base russia's only such base in the mediterranean is being enlarged. president hassan rouhani of iran is another supporter after all iran has no intention of losing one of its closest allies in the arab world from day one to run a support to damascus with advisors weapons and troops syria in return grants around a much needed route to the hezbollah militia in lebanon. this man on the other hand would like to see assad out of power turkey has supported various rebel groups