Syria: Russia to send anti-aircraft missiles to stop Western 'hotheads'

[SherriMunnerlyn]

Syria: Russia to send anti-aircraft missiles to stop Western 'hotheads' "Russia vowed to deliver a sophisticated anti-aircraft missile system to Bashar al-Assad after expressing anger over British-led moves to arm Syria's rebels. Moscow said it was being forced to send the S-300 system to*Syria's*president to prevent Western "hotheads" from intervening in the country's civil war. It came after*Britain succeeded in persuading the European Union not to renew an embargo*on supplying weapons to Syria's opposition forces." Syria: Russia to send anti-aircraft missiles to stop Western 'hotheads' - Telegraph. I am not surprised to read this news. You cannot expect to maintain a civil war where one side is allowed arms and the other is not. At least now, Syria can defend herself from further Israeli aggression. I was reading Orthodox Christians in Syria express fear over these Israeli airstrikes during Orthodox Easter ceremonies recently. I read they cried throughout Easter services, mourning the deaths and kidnapping of Priests , and in fear of fighting and more Israeli airstrikes. Sherri

 

[Billo_Really]

I hope they shoot everyone of those Israeli war jets out of the sky!

 

[irosie91]

Syria: Russia to send anti-aircraft missiles to stop Western 'hotheads' "Russia vowed to deliver a sophisticated anti-aircraft missile system to Bashar al-Assad after expressing anger over British-led moves to arm Syria's rebels. Moscow said it was being forced to send the S-300 system to*Syria's*president to prevent Western "hotheads" from intervening in the country's civil war. It came after*Britain succeeded in persuading the European Union not to renew an embargo*on supplying weapons to Syria's opposition forces." Syria: Russia to send anti-aircraft missiles to stop Western 'hotheads' - Telegraph. I am not surprised to read this news. You cannot expect to maintain a civil war where one side is allowed arms and the other is not. At least now, Syria can defend herself from further Israeli aggression. I was reading Orthodox Christians in Syria express fear over these Israeli airstrikes during Orthodox Easter ceremonies recently. I read they cried throughout Easter services, mourning the deaths and kidnapping of Priests , and in fear of fighting and more Israeli airstrikes. Sherri

very interesting sherri----you got the body count of christian children resulting
from those Israeli airstrikes------names please--and autopsy results

you got a citation for those syrian christians worried about Israeli airstrikes?

the only stuff I found involved christians worried about islamicists amongst
the rebels ------who they feel are bound to step up violence toward
their community. Remember the CHALDEANS of syria considered
Saddam a safer choice than the shiite islamicists -----good old saddam.

It is understandable that the syrian christians STILL STUCK there
consider Assad a safer choice than the islamicists of the AL QUIEDA
variety. They are between a rock and a hard place. It is true that
they could be scapegoated by the Islamicists for any action by "KAFFIRIN"
This is not a new kind of game

 

[waltky]

Could this be the spark that ignites Armageddon?...

Israel threatens to strike Russia’s shipments of missiles to Syria
Tue May 28 2013 —Israel's defence chief said Tuesday a Russian plan to supply sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles to Syria was a "threat" and signalled that Israel is prepared to use force to stop the delivery.

The warning by Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon ratcheted up tensions with Moscow over the planned sale of S-300 air-defence missiles to Syria. Earlier in the day, a top Russian official said his government remained committed to the deal. Israel has been lobbying Moscow to halt the sale, fearing the missiles would upset the balance of power in the region and could slip into the hands of hostile groups, including the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, a close ally of the Syrian regime. Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Syria in recent months that are believed to have destroyed weapons shipments bound for Hezbollah. Israel has not confirmed carrying out the attacks.

The delivery of the Russian missiles to Syria could limit the Israeli air force's ability to act. It is not clear whether Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace in these attacks. Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Russia to discuss the Syrian situation with President Vladimir Putin. The sides have said little about the talks, but the S-300s were believed to have been on the agenda. "Clearly this move is a threat to us," Yaalon told reporters Tuesday when asked about the planned Russian sale. "At this stage I can't say there is an escalation. The shipments have not been sent on their way yet. And I hope that they will not be sent," he said. But "if God forbid they do reach Syria, we will know what to do."

An Israeli army Merkava tanks manoeuvres during a drill in the Israeli annexed Golan Heights near the border with Syria

Since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011, Israel repeatedly has voiced concerns that Syria's sophisticated arsenal, including chemical weapons, could either be transferred to Hezbollah, a bitter enemy of Israel, or fall into the hands of rebels battling Syrian President Bashar Assad. The rebels include Al Qaeda-affiliated groups that Israel believes could turn their attention toward Israel if they topple Assad. Syria already possesses Russian-made air defences, and Israel is believed to have used long-distance bombs fired from Israeli or Lebanese airspace. The S-300s would expand Syria's capabilities, allowing it to counter airstrikes launched from foreign airspace as well.

In Moscow, Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, wouldn't say whether Russia has shipped any of the S-300s, which have a range of up to 200 kilometres and the capability to track and strike multiple targets simultaneously. But he insisted that Moscow isn't going to abandon the deal despite strong Western and Israeli criticism. "We understand the concerns and signals sent to us from different capitals. We realize that many of our partners are concerned about the issue," Ryabkov said. "We have no reason to revise our stance." He said the missiles could be a deterrent against foreign intervention in Syria and would not be used against Syrian rebels, who do not have an air force. "We believe that such steps to a large extent help restrain some 'hotheads' considering a scenario to give an international dimension to this conflict," he said.

MORE

 

[irosie91]

fret not WALT- when Israel blows up armaments
shipments----the world will yawn

 

[waltky]

Now dem Russkies gonna sell Assad MIG fighter jets...

Russia to sell at least 10 MiG fighters to Syria
May 31,`13 -- Russia's MiG aircraft maker said Friday it plans to sign a new agreement to ship at least 10 fighter jets to Syria, a move that comes amid international criticism of earlier Russian weapons deals with Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

MiG's director general, Sergei Korotkov, said a Syrian delegation was in Moscow to discuss the details of a new contract for the delivery of MiG-29 M/M2 fighters. In remarks carried by Russian news agencies, he said Syria wants to buy "more than 10" such fighters, but wouldn't give the exact number. Russia has said it's only providing Assad with weapons intended to protect Syria from a foreign invasion, such as air defense missile systems. It has claimed it is not delivering weapons that could be used in Syria's two-year civil war, which has killed more 70,000 people and sent millions fleeing the country. But the delivery of MiGs would contradict that claim and expose Russia to global criticism, so the Kremlin might think twice before giving the go-ahead.

A MiG spokesman wouldn't comment on Korotkov's statement, and the MiG chief could be referring to a deal the company previously negotiated with Syria that apparently has been put on hold amid the civil war. Moscow has shipped billions of dollars' worth of missiles, combat jets, tanks, artillery and other military gear to Syria over more than four decades. Syria now is Russia's last remaining ally in the Middle East and hosts the only naval base Moscow has outside the former Soviet Union.

A Russian-made MiG-29 jet fighter flown by the aerobatic team Strizhi (Swifts) perform during MAKS (the International Aviation and Space Show) in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia. Russian arms manufacturer MiG told Russian news agencies Friday, May 31, 2013 that it is signing a contract to deliver at least 10 fighter jets to Syria.

Russia has shielded Assad from U.N. sanctions and has continued to provide his regime with weapons despite the uprising against him that began in March 2011. Russian media reports say Syria placed an order a few years ago for 12 MiG-29 M/M2 fighters with an option of buying another 12. The Stockholm Peace Research Institute also has reported that Russia planned to provide Syria with 24 of the aircraft.

The MiG-29 M/M2 is an advanced version of the MiG-29 twin-engine fighter jet, which has been a mainstay of the Soviet and Russian air force since mid-1980s. Syria had about 20 fighters of the original make among scores of other Soviet- and Russian-built aircraft. Other Russian weapons deals have apparently been put on hold during Syria's civil war, including a recent contract to deliver Yak-130 combat training jets that could also be used for ground attacks.

Source

See also:

Reports: Russian Missiles Unlikely to Reach Syria for Months
May 31, 2013 - Russian media is reporting that an arms industry source says Russia has not yet delivered anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and may not do so for several months.

The source told the Russian news agency Interfax any delivery of the advanced S-300 air defense system missiles would be made no earlier than September. On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hinted he had received new weapons from Russia and threatened retaliation against Israel if it carries out future airstrikes on his country. Russia had vowed to proceed with the transfer of anti-aircraft missiles, saying it will help deter foreign involvement in Syria's civil war.

In an interview with Lebanon's Al-Manar television, Mr. Assad was vague on whether the new weapons include the S-300 air defense system. "All we have agreed on with Russia will be implemented and some of it has been implemented recently. And we and the Russians continue to implement these contracts." Israel has threatened to use force to stop the the transfer. That country's main civilian airport would be within range of the S-300. Earlier this month, Israel attacked a suspected weapons supply in Damascus it says was headed for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Syrian troops and their Hezbollah allies have come closer to capturing the town of Qusair, which controls supply routes vital to the army and rebels, and provides access between Damascus and the Mediterranean. Local media reported troops have cut off the supply routes of rebel forces in the Arjun district in northern Qusair. Pro-Assad forces have been surrounding Qusair in recent days. Also, a U.S. citizen was killed in Syria while fighting for opposition forces. Syrian state media reported the woman, Nicole Mansfield, died in fighting in the town of Idlib. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed the death to Mansfield's family.

Reports: Russian Missiles Unlikely to Reach Syria for Months

 

[Bleipriester]

Russia to sell at least 10 MiG fighters to Syria
May 31,`13 -- Russia's MiG aircraft maker said Friday it plans to sign a new agreement to ship at least 10 fighter jets to Syria, a move that comes amid international criticism of earlier Russian weapons deals with Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

Wow, 10 Mig 29! Another joke. Syria has already hundrets of mostly Mig 21 which also are invincible to what western press calls rebels.

Reports: Russian Missiles Unlikely to Reach Syria for Months
May 31, 2013 - Russian media is reporting that an arms industry source says Russia has not yet delivered anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and may not do so for several months.

One more joke. It is about a few devices anyway. Not even ten and few ammo.

 

[Bleipriester]

Are they really that afraid of the S-300?

Netanyahu tells European foreign ministers that if the Russian missile systems get into Syria, Israel's 'entire airspace will become a no-fly zone'


Also important to know:

In the briefing to the European ambassadors Amidror tried to clarify Israel's policies on other issues concerning the Syrian civil war, and denied international media reports that Israel prefers President Bashar Assad remains in power.
"We are not interested in intervening or influencing the situation inside Syria," Amidror told the ambassadors. "We will only act when needed to protect our security, and thus we will prevent in the future the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah."


Israel says it will act to prevent S-300 missile systems from becoming operational in Syria - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper