Russia Sends Two Planes To Evacuate Citizens From Syria

Russia is dispatching two planes to evacuate Russian citizens fleeing the war in Syria. The planes will land and take off from Lebanon, and an estimated 100 Russian citizens are expected to avail themselves of the emergency airlift by traveling overland across the border. The VOA takes pains to emphasize that it is unclear whether the planes mark the beginning of a larger Russian operation. Nonetheless the move will inevitably be read as evidence of weakening Russian confidence in the ability of the Bashar al-Assad regime to resist opposition advances.