Hanna Notte writes on Russia's other war with Islamic State

Hanna Notte has written an article for the Russian International Affairs Council (5 April) entitled 'Russia's Other War on IS'.

In it she writes, "While its recent partial withdrawal from Syria reignited debates about Russia'sseriousness in fighting IS, reports about Moscow stepping up its efforts to fight that terrorist group in Central Asia and the North Caucasus have gone largely unnoticed. Russia launched large-scale military exercises with Tajikistan, as well as a new round of counterterrorism operations in the restive republic of Dagestan. Already one day before President Putin's surprising about-face regarding the Syria operation, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated in an interview on Russian TV that IS, having been somewhat contained in Syria, will likely further strengthen in Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan, necessitating an international response."

The full article can be read here: http://russiancouncil.ru/en/blogs/digest/?id_4=2405

Hanna Notte is Doctoral Candidate in International Relations, University of Oxford, Alfa Fellow at the Moscow Carnegie Center and Institute of Oriental Studies (Russian Academy of Sciences).