Analysis of hybrid war strategies of Russia in the context of the Syrian civil war

This study examines Russia's hybrid war practices in Syria in a broad perspective. The main research question is whether Russia's activities in Syria can be counted as hybrid warfare. In this context, the main argument of the study is that Russia is waging a successful hybrid war in Syria. The qualitative research method was used for the purpose and importance of the study, and the obtained data were analyzed and interpreted according to the literature. In the study, the phenomenon of hybrid warfare is analyzed by taking one of the most significant international relations theories, the theory of offensive realism, as a criterion and Syrian crisis is chosen to be analyzed. Findings show that, Russia conducted a successful hybrid war in Syria by applying hybrid components such as information warfare, propaganda, cyber-electronic warfare, unconventional operations, and conventional operations in a coordinated manner. The study also reveals that Russia, trying to change the balance of power in the anarchic international system, acts according to the basic assumptions of offensive realism. Russia wanted to change the balance of power in its favor and did not hesitate to use force for this. He wanted to regain its lost influence in the Middle East after the Cold War by getting involved in the Syrian civil war. In this direction, the strategies put forward by Russia have shown that Russian methods meets the characteristics of hybrid warfare and it is compatible with the offensive realist paradigm.