In the interest of peace Putin has avoided responding to US and Israeli provocations in Syria. Putin went so far as to invite the war criminal and genocidal maniac Netanyahu to Russia for the celebration of Russia's victory over Germany in World War II. Netanyahu accepted, but showed Putin who is boss by ordering illegal Israeli military attacks on Syrian army positions just prior to his departure for Russia. Washington rewarded Putin's peace efforts by occupying with US and French troops the part of Syria still held by Washington's mercenaries sent to overthrow Assad and by re-supplying the Muslim extremists Washington is using against Assad's secular government. With US and French troops present, Putin has halted the offensive to clear all of Syria of the foreign invaders. If Americans or French are killed, Putin knows that the demonization of Russia will reach a new high pitch and Washington will use it to counteract Europe's dissatisfaction with Washington. The box into which Putin has been put by the Russian government's misjudgement of US and Israeli intentions allows continuing US-led attacks on Syrian military positions. See: https://www.rt.com/news/427601-us-coalition-strike-syria/?