An Al-Monitor piece states Russia has disrupted Erdogan’s plan for toppling Assad by stationing Russian fighter jets in Syria. Turkey had been providing air cover for Islamists who are battling Assad’s forces, and Ankara has been trying to set up a safe zone in Northern Syria to stop the advances of Kurdish fighters. But, with Russian fighter jets in the area, Turkish military planes will likely retreat and stop intercepting Syrian aircrafts that are flying close to Turkey.