As frequently it does the AP neglects to connect the actual dots. This is easy to do when omitting relevant facts that do not match the made up anti trump "conclusion". Russia doesn't back terrorist suicide bombing authorized by Khomeini, a friend of Assad. Russia experienced its own massive casualties when Chechens blew up apartment houses like Assad blew up the Marine barracks in Lebanon. Russia sold tanks and other military hardware to Syria, not that it did Syria much good against the IDF on the Golan Heights.