Report: Russia Sent Syria Advanced S-300 Missiles
Report: Russia Sent Syria Advanced S-300 Missiles – Defense/Security – News – Israel National News.
Russian warships that have reached waters off Syria in recent days were carrying, among other things, Russian technical advisors who will help the Syrians set up an array of S-300 missiles Damascus has received in recent weeks, a report in the London-based Arabic language Al Quds-Al Arabi said Thursday. Citing sources in Syria and Russia, the paper said that Moscow sees a Western attack on Syria as a “red line” that it will not tolerate.
Despite the mounting opposition in the West and even in the Arab world against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad for his assaults on protesters seeking to unseat him as leader of the country, Russia maintains its support for Assad, the report said. Russian and Syria military officials are working together to maintain Assad’s rule, and to deflect a possible attack by NATO or the U.S and EU.
Along with the missiles, the report says that Russia has installed advanced radar systems in all key Syrian military and industrial installations. The radar system also covers areas north and south of Syria, where it will be able to detect movement of troops or aircraft towards the Syrian border. The radar targets include much of Israel, as well as the Incirlik military base in Turkey, which is used by NATO.
The S-300 system is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems available. The system’s radar is able to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. Deployment time for the S-300 is five minutes, and they have a very long life span, with no maintenance needed.
Russia had attempted to sell the system to Iran, but that sale was cancelled due to pressure by the U.S. and Israel, with Russia returning Iran’s deposit. According to the report, the Iranians paid for Syria’s S-300 missile system. It is not known if some of the missiles have reached Iran as well.
WarSclerotic 
November 24, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Putin is feeling strong and he is doing weird things, like threatening americans in Europe-the missile shield-and encouraging the iranians to keep up their nuclear projects ; he makes strong moves toward Syria because is russian middle east positions who are at stakes here. Russia is on the escalation path and there is no one to tell them the truth right in their faces. And the truth is that anyone who is playing with fire will be burned by fire. Luis.
November 24, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Major escalation. Russian support for Assad is an important gamble and they have decided to raise the ante in their effort to regain spheres of influence. This stems from their lack of any respect for Western Europe or President Obama. I am sure the Russian military planners are anxious to watch this system in action; and see how the Israelis counter it and try to destroy it. I do not believe that the Israelis will allow this system to stand for too long right across its border with Syria.
My great fear is that events are already out of control as they were in the month leading up to WW I. Big tip of the hat to Mr. Wouk for keeping us informed with this website
November 24, 2011 at 5:54 PM
You meant surely WW II . I also share with you the appreciation for Mr. Wouk website quality. Regarding the russians and their ”respect” for Obama, i just saw a journalist at their television making a rude gesture when talking about the American President . Regarding the S-300 missiles I also think that we cannot afford to let them become rusty on the syrian soil. Luis.
November 24, 2011 at 6:16 PM
No Luis, I did mean WW I. Diplomatic efforts to avoid the war were doomed to failure once the large powers started large scale military mobilizations. A great book on this is Barbara Tuchman’s “Guns of August”. Regardless, this is a perilous moment. My gut feeling is that as we write these comments there are military mobilizations occuring around the world.
November 24, 2011 at 6:29 PM
Luis, they fired that journalist for doing that.