Although US and Russia both are supposedly working toward the same goal of destroying ISIL, they have many divergent goals as well.  If indeed targeting Da’esh/ISIL is what both of them are working toward, they will need to communicate and deconflict to a much greater degree than what is currently happening now. Russians had their first casualty in Syria.  The Russian government is claiming it was a suicide, although his parents say his was not suicidal.  Resembles the time of the Afghan occupation, when there were massive Soviet casualties - the Soviet public became very weary of foreign intervention at that time. The people remain very sensitive to losses abroad, especially with the current engagement in Ukraine. General Philip Breedlove, interviewed on National Public Radio this morning, opines that the activity in Syria may have the purpose of deflecting the world's attention away form Russian involvement in Ukraine. While Juan Cole, warns that in regard to ground troops, we should be concerned about conflict with Turkey, rather than Russia.  

Get the full analysis in a conversation with the Director of the Middle East Studies Center, Alam Payind.  Full recording here.