Syria: Who is fighting who?

Russian air-strikes in Syria, supposedly exclusively targeting Isis but reportedly hitting CIA-linked moderate and secular rebels, have somehow further complicated a deadly and brutal four-year civil war.

There are reports of Iranian troops in Syria fighting alongside the forces of the Bashar al-Assad regime, with the Russian strikes possibly a precursor to a ground offensive by Syrian and Iranian fighters.

Here is who is backing who in Syria:

The US and UK

Back: More moderate elements among the rebel forces in Syria.

Oppose: The regime of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, Isis and other extremist groups.

Russia

Backs: President Assad.

Opposes: Isis and the other extremist groups allied with it.

Turkey

Backs: US-led coalition and, tacitly, rebel forces in Syria.

Opposes: The Assad government and Kurdish separatists allied with the PKK, as well as Isis.

Iran

Backs: President Assad and the Syrian government.

Opposes: Sunni insurgents, Isis and other Sunni extremists.

Saudi Arabia

Backs: A number of rebel groups who are currently fighting the Syrian government.

Opposes: President Assad and the Syrian government.

Qatar

Backs: A number of rebel groups fighting the Syrian government.

Opposes: President Assad and the Syrian government.

France

Backs: More moderate elements among the rebel forces in Syria.

Opposes: The government of President Assad, Isis and other Islamic extremist groups.

Or, in other words:

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