USNI News quotes Brent Scowcroft Center US Navy Senior Fellow Steven Horrell on Russia’s message for the United States, Turkey, and NATO with its strikes in Syria:
In addition to a statement of the effectiveness of Russian technology the strike on the targets, which could have just as easily been undertaken by the forward deployed Russian aircraft, have a messaging component, Steven Horrell, the U.S. Navy senior fellow at The Atlantic Council told USNI News.“Regardless of whatever tactical value, this is clear messaging to the U.S. and NATO,” he said.“It’s possible this is specifically a message to Turkey with recent friction over airspace on the border.”