Yes but doesn't it worry you that Russia is teaming with the likes of Syria and Iran, who are pulling all kinds of strings in the region, some of them connected to proscribed groups who we would count alongside AQ as our enemies.
If you think Russia are in this just to protect their deep water port, you're mistaken. They could do this easily on their own if they so desired (think Kaliningrad-on-Med). Why do they need Assad for this? They could just as easily secure it as payback for supporting the west and the rebels. The truth is Putin is meddling, possibly trying to counter the US-Saudi/Sunni-Israel axis in the region.