Unmoved by Israel, Russia will send top air-defense system to Assad
Unmoved by Israel, Russia will send top air-defense system to Assad | The Times of Israel.
Moscow says it must honor its deal with Damascus, even though Netanyahu warned Putin that delivery of S-300 missiles could plunge the region into war
Undeterred by pleas and warnings from Israel, Russia made clear on Thursday that it will go ahead with its planned delivery of a highly sophisticated air-defense system to Syria’s President Bashar Assad.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in an emergency face-to-face meeting on Tuesday that Moscow’s sale of the S-300 missile defense system to Assad could push the Middle East into war.
But Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, evidently unmoved by the dramatic Israeli warning, declared on Thursday that while Moscow was “not signing any new deals,” it would honor existing contracts with Syria, including for the air-defense systems. “We’ve already carried out some of the deal,” Lavrov said, “and we will carry the rest of it out in full.”
A failure to honor signed contracts, Lavrov added in a television interview, would “harm the credibility” of Russia in other arms-sales contracts.
Lavrov’s statements indicated that Netanyahu’s mission to Russia — he flew to meet Putin, immediately after his return from China, for emergency talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi — had failed. In their talks, Netanyahu reportedly told the Russian president that the S-300 had no relevance to Assad’s civil-war battles against rebel groups, and implored Moscow not to deliver the systems, Channel 2 reported.
He said that if acquired by Assad, the S-300 — a state-of-the-art system that can intercept fighter jets and cruise missiles — “is likely to draw us into a response, and could send the region deteriorating into war,” the Channel 2 report said.
On Thursday night, in response to Lavrov’s statements, Israeli officials were quoted by Channel 2 as saying that Jerusalem preferred not to describe Netanyahu’s mission as a failure, but acknowledged that Israel’s “situation would have been far better” if Putin had agreed to cancel the delivery. An Israeli source was quoted as saying that Netanyahu had told Putin the S-300s represent a weapons system that “shatters [Israel’s] qualitative edge,” presumably since it would greatly constrain the Israeli air force’s freedom of movement above Syria and neighboring Lebanon.
The Israeli source was also quoted as saying that Israel would “firmly oppose” the transfer of S-300s to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Twice this month, Israel carried out air attacks in the Damascus area to blow up Fateh-110 ground-to-ground missile consignments en route to Hezbollah via Syria from Iran.
Lavrov said recently that the S-300s were to help Syria defend itself against air attacks. Israel suspects that Russia will deliver to Assad six S-300 missile batteries, as well as 144 missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported last week.
At their brief joint press conference Tuesday, it was clear that Netanyahu and Putin had not reached agreement on how to grapple with the Syrian crisis.
The Russian president said that the only way to resolve the crisis was via “the soonest end to armed conflict and the beginning of political settlement.”
He added: “At this sensitive moment, it’s particularly important to avoid any action that could destabilize the situation.”
Netanyahu, however, said that the volatile situation in the Middle East requires action to improve security. “The region around us is very unstable and explosive, and therefore I am glad for the opportunity to examine together new ways to stabilize the area and bring security and stability to the area,” he said. The prime minister’s bottom line was that “Israel will do whatever it takes to defend its citizens.”
Russia has continued to ship weapons to Syria, despite the civil war there, but while it has reportedly delivered less-sophisticated air-defense systems, it refrained from providing Damascus with the S-300s, which have a range of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles), and the capability to track down and strike multiple targets simultaneously with lethal efficiency.
The weapon would mean a quantum leap in Syria’s air defense capability, including against neighboring countries.
Israel reportedly attacked suspected shipments of advanced Iranian weaponry — the Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missile — in Syria with back-to-back airstrikes this month. Israeli officials signaled there would be more attacks unless Syria refrains from trying to deliver such “game-changing” missiles to Hezbollah. Hezbollah said weapons shipments won’t cease.
On Wednesday, Israel reportedly warned Assad that further attacks were being considered, and that it would “bring down” his regime if he retaliated.
On Monday, Israeli Tourism Minister Uzi Landau accused Russia of destabilizing the Middle East by selling weapons to Assad’s regime. “Anyone who provides weaponry to terror organizations is siding with terror,” Landau said.
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WarSclerotic 
May 16, 2013 at 8:45 PM
This is what I think will happen:
Shortly before the S300 becomes fully operational all the Russians stay away from them.
Israel destroys them.
Putin looks strong because he didn’t give a damn about Israel’s wishes.
Bibi looks strong because he didn’t give a damn about Russia’s wishes.
Assad looks stupd and helpless because again he cannot do anything about it.
No Russians were harmed, so no need for Putin to retaliate.
In addition to that, there is no bad advertisement for the S300.
They were not operational at that moment. So Russia can continue to export them as wonder weapons.
Assad has to spend another billion $ to get new toys from Russia.
The balance of power is not affected because the S300 make no difference in the internal Syrian conflict.
So Putin wins, Bibi wins, Assad looses.
May 16, 2013 at 9:01 PM
I hope your right…logical scenario, but Putin has already lost big time…the groupthink of the Islamic “streets” have long memories… what he has done is worse than the embarrassing inaction of the US and west. If Putin were really smart they would have looked out a few more years and sided with those who will call the shots a year from now. All he can do now is damage control, but this sale will cost him more in image that the hard cash from the sale…
May 16, 2013 at 9:12 PM
I disagree. The Arab or the islamic “street” cares ony about babys killed by Israelis, Americans and other “infidels”.
They are perffectly happy with killing each other.
May 16, 2013 at 10:15 PM
Sorry to disagree, I have spent 35 years living and working with Arabs, Turks, Persians, I have had this conversation with several long time friends and this situation has had a big impact on their views, you are correct in saying there is hatred toward everything Israeli but this situation has seriously harmed the long term reputation of Russia
May 16, 2013 at 8:54 PM
This is unthinkable, I wish the media outlets would show the horrific images of all the children recently executed by Assad, I have not seen the images but just the description of small children dead in their mothers arms would perhaps shock the world into action… these images need to be widely published. Putin’s face should be used as well…since he shares the responsibility of these crimes…Russia has sunk to a new low, to arm such a despot…have they learned nothing in all these years about humanity, apparently not. Putin will be judged by history as a evil man…innocent blood is on his hands…shame on him.
Lawrence
May 17, 2013 at 9:50 AM
The corporate mass-media show such images of a conflict on a daily basis only when Bilderberg, the Trilateral Commission, the CFR, have decided to military intervene. Before such a decision, those images are only shown once in a while.
You must understand that the mass-media are the psychological weapons of Wall Street to rule over the masses.
May 16, 2013 at 9:12 PM
Israel is surrounded by enemies on all sides. Every one of them wants to drive Israel into the sea. That is why Israeli leaders must be gambling men.
Israel must gamble on neutralizing Syria’s major weapons systems. Then — if U.S./NATO support comes in time, and the tide turns correctly — maybe just maybe the moderate forces will win the revolution.
Either way it behooves Israel to use the Syrian revolution and the great opportunity it presents to reduce Syria to a joke military; and to do severe damage to Hezbollah. Hezbollah fighters no longer hide in the mountains of Lebanon. They openly engage in battle in Syria. The opportunity to take out as many of those forces as possible should not be lost. Remember as payment for their active support of the Syrian resign Hezbollah has been promised game changer weapons and WMD’s that it can use on Israel and the rest of the world.
If Israel grows (or simply rediscovers) its hairy set of balls, it can destroy another army in the Middle East. One that is a huge potential threat to Israel, Middle East and world peace. That will let Israel concentrate on its real problem: Iran.
May 16, 2013 at 9:16 PM
So, no, the Assad regime will not get Russia’s S-300 or the updated S-400anti-missile system. (By the way, Israel has learned how to defeat both systems.) Neither will Iran or any other Islamic nation.
The Russians are master chess players. They know how to play all sides against each other. But that is just for show. Israel must understand the fundamental truth. Russia made its biggest strategic change ever: its now sided with the Israelis.
The Russians love to back the winner. There can be no question who the big winner in the Middle East is.
May 16, 2013 at 9:18 PM
That is from an analysis I subscribed to. We will see… USA and NATO would have to join the party bit late kicking and screaming.
May 16, 2013 at 9:22 PM
One more part from an analyst:
Once the U.S. and NATO join the war in Syria, it will be far easier to get their support for the coming attack on Iran. Israel does not see that though. i.e. the Israeli perspective is 180 degrees off.
The Israelis also don’t understand the game Putin is playing. He knows the entire world, including Russia, faces an Islamic uprising. He and his nation are done supporting Islam.
Now Russia is not going to take out a full-page announcement in Pravda, about this key change in Kremlin thinking. The Russians will pay lip service to “supporting” their former allies Syria and Iran. In reality Russia is squarely backing Israel. It’s a no-brainer. Think about it.
May 16, 2013 at 9:23 PM
“…that while Moscow was “not signing any new deals, it would honor existing contracts with Syria, including for the air-defense systems.“
Let’s do the math:
Existing contracts = money for Russia.
Remove Assad = default on payments to Russia.
S-300’s in Syria = insurance on Russian interests in Syria.
Continued Slaughter = Nyet speakinsky das Englesha.
May 16, 2013 at 9:41 PM
The S300 cannot contribute to Assad’s survivial.
At best (or at worst), they can keep Israel from attacking his weapon deliveries to hizbollah but they cannot protect him from all the jihatdists, rebels and other assasins thirsting for his blood.
As often said by Israel. They are not interested in helping either side in this nasty war.
May 16, 2013 at 9:28 PM
Israel surrounded?
That’s actually a good thing because:
“They’re on Our Right, They’re on Our Left, They’re in Front of Us, They’re Behind Us; They Can’t Get Away from Us This Time.”
Great line by Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller.
May 17, 2013 at 6:44 AM
Great lines, Artaxes. And I totally agree with you regarding the speed which that Tupolev will take off, after delivering the S-300 package at the Damascus airport.
May 16, 2013 at 11:15 PM
I also think Russia backs Israel. This is my interpretation:
-Bibi: We have no interest in Assad being removed. We have interest in Hezbollah not getting any game-changing weapon.
-Putin: All right, so we send the S300, WE send our technic staff to man the machines, that’s the guarantee for:
Bibi & Putin (chorus):
1.- Russians are in charge of S300, not Hezbollah not even Assad
2.- Russia looks strong not giving a damn about Israel
3.- Israel looks strong not giving a damn about Russia
4.- Assad “feels” nice with Russia, even when they are not in total control of S300
5.- Putin can boast about Russian staff as human shield against “those pesky israelis”
6.- Israel feels better with Russia in charge of the S300 instead of Assad or Hezbollah
7.- Assad don’t lose (and it is maybe a win)
8.- Hezbollah is cut off any big thing here. Hezbollah loses. IF Hezbollah wants to put their claws on the S300, they can’t because the Russian “human shield” is there.
9.- It’s not a game-changing move on the field w.r.t. the internal Syrian war
10.- the press can have all the speculation and media hype they want, about Bibi and Putin having a rap battle to see who do the rhymes better
May 16, 2013 at 11:19 PM
11.- ‘Merika loses because it looks inept, because of the inept fool in the White House
May 17, 2013 at 10:55 AM
Something like that is very well possible , like i said a couple of days ago a sort of Kennedy deal