Middle East military tensions around Syria shot up again Monday, June 18, with the news reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars that a joint Russian-Chinese-Iranian exercise is to take place in Syria.
It was described as “the biggest of its kind ever staged in the Middle East” with 90,000 personnel, 400 air planes and 900 tanks taking part.
As part of its preparations, Beijing is reported to have asked Egyptian authorities to permit the passage through the Suez Canal in late June of 12 naval ships heading for the Syrian port of Tartus, where Moscow maintains a naval and marine base. debkafile reported earlier this week that Russian naval vessels with marines on board were heading for Tartus. The Iranian media did not itemize their contribution to the joint exercise.
debkafile stresses that this would be the first time that substantial Russian and Chinese military strength has ever been deployed in Syria or anywhere else in the Middle East. It means that the two powers are prepared to parade their unabashed partnership with the Iranian and Syrian armies for the shared purpose of obstructing US-European-Arab military intervention in Syria. A large-scale Russian and Chinese military presence in the embattled country would expect to deter the United States from leading a military operation against Bashar Assad and his regime.
No date was attached to the report but the exercise may possibly take place before the end of the month
The large-scale maneuver was announced in Tehran on the first day of the nuclear crisis talks in Moscow between Iran and the six world powers, their third attempt to resolve the crisis by diplomacy. However, Russian and Iranian sources close to the talks were pessimistic about progress. An Iranian delegation member complained the atmosphere was harsh and unconstructive. A Russian source saw no way of bridging US-led Western differences with Tehran when the parties reconvene Monday.
debkafile also notes that the big joint Russian-Chinese-Iranian exercise “at sea, air and land on Syrian soil,” ws released for publication shortly before US President Barack Obama was due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit in Mexico.
WarSclerotic 
June 18, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Into the vacuum of American Power comes chaos.
June 18, 2012 at 9:21 PM
The heat is up and the game is more complicated. The chinese leadership will make a heavy mistake if they will deploy in Mediterranean Sea in the times when war will explode in their faces; they are, simply, too far from home.
They attempt to counter-balance the americans moves in the South China Sea but the americans have bases all around the world. The chinese have no bases here and also no Base here, too. But, if they want to travel all along the way up to here, no problems. We won’t spoil their journey.
June 18, 2012 at 10:00 PM
Confirmation from Tehran: something is goin on:
http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/98850-iran-russia-china-syria-to-launch-biggest-joint-war-game-in-mideast-
Could lead to a coup in Turkey …
June 18, 2012 at 10:11 PM
In front of our very eyes – unbelievable…….! But : Dont you fear, Israel ! ”HE who watches over Israel never slumbers nor sleeps !”
All of Israels enemies will fall – ALL of them !
June 18, 2012 at 11:41 PM
We are living in a sick world. A murder kills his own people and have the support of others countries!! it is real a fkin shame.
Russia, China, Iran, NK are rulled for dictators that only interest is the money and health care of the government members
Thank God I leave in a free country!
That one day all Syrians can get their freedom!!
June 19, 2012 at 12:46 AM
Debkafile is full of bullshit. This is just propaganda. Nobody in their right mind would believe this.
June 19, 2012 at 8:17 AM
Hi, Neil. I also don’t think that Debka is exactly the Torah that Moshe get on Sinai Mount. But it happens that i read this info a couple a days before, from another source – a pretty good one.
Anyhow, i don’t think we will see some angry little chinese here any soon but, who knows ?