Russia has started bombing ISIS/coordinating with Syrian gov.

[Xolodno]

4. Hands were tied.

The west couldn't intervene more other than air strikes while negotiating with Iran on a nuclear deal. A deal both Israel and Saudi Arabia wanted dead...so the west could get more involved in toppling Assad.

Even then, those Air Strikes were limited to hitting ISIS primarily. Which is is the Saudi's proxy against Iranian supported Assad.

So you have, Western airstrikes hitting ISIS that is supported by the Saudi's which are troops fighting against Assad and Iranian volunteers. And the west needs Iranian cooperation on the Nuke deal.....its a real fucked up mess.

The West "tried" to get the ball rolling on developing forces that were pro-west. But being an area that has a history of being subjugated by western powers, there wasn't much appetite for that. Plus the Saudi's would have preferred something more loyal to them.

Russia gave the West its time to figure something out and nothing has worked. So, Putin said enough is enough. Assad stays for the time being.

On the plus side, you now have a large population of radicals all contained in one nation as opposed to mingling with the populace all over the world.