WarSclerotic

Diplomat: Russia to arm Syria regime with anti-aircraft missiles to prevent foreign intervention – Diplomacy & Defense – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper.

( Russia’s instant reaction to the EU’s lifting of the arms embargo to the rebels in Syria.  – JW )

Top Russian diplomat says Moscow will go through with sale of S-300 missiles to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s army; Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon says that if weapon systems reach Syria, Israel will react.

By The Associated Press, Gili Cohen and Reuters | May.28, 2013 | 2:38 PM

A Russian S-300 in Moscow. Photo by AP

A top Russian diplomat confirmed that Moscow will provide Syria with state-of-the art air defense missiles to prevent foreign intervention in the country.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov wouldn’t say whether Russia has shipped any of the long-range S-300 air defense missile systems, but added that Moscow isn’t going to abandon the deal despite strong Western and Israeli criticism.

Ryabkov said the deal helps restrain some “hot heads” considering a military intervention in Syria.

Russia has been the key ally of the Syrian regime, protecting it from the United Nations sanctions and providing it with weapons despite the civil war there that has claimed over 70,000 lives.

Ryabkov’s statement comes a day after European Union’s decision to lift an arms embargo to Syrian opposition.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Tuesday implied that Israel will retaliate in Syria should the weapons systems reach the war-torn country.

Ya’alon said that Russia’s intent to supply Assad’s army with the advanced anti-aircraft systems is “a threat, as far as we’re concerned,” but asserted that the weapons have yet to be shipped out.

“I can’t say there’s been an acceleration (in weapons delivery),” he told reporters. “The shipments haven’t set out yet and I hope they won’t. If they do arrive in Syria, God forbid, we’ll know what to do.”

The defense minister’s statement appears to contradict remarks made by IAF chief Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, who said last week that Assad’s regime has invested millions in purchasing anti-aircraft missiles, and that the S-300 shipment “is on its way.”

Russia’s foreign minister said earlier this month that Moscow had no new plans to sell the S-300 to Syria but left open the possibility of delivering such systems under an existing contract.

Israel is concerned that the weapons meant for Syria’s arsenal could fall into the hands of Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside Assad against the rebels in Syria.

Last month Israel reportedly launched air strikes in Syria, targeting medium-range missiles that had arrived from Iran and were destined for Hezbollah.

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