Russia Says Missile System for Syria Will Deter Foreign Attacks
A senior Russian diplomat says Moscow plans to provide advanced air
defenses to Damascus to deter foreign military action against Syria's
pro-Russian government, which is embroiled in a civil war.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday the planned
transfer of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the government of Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad will be a "stabilizing factor" for the
country.
He told reporters that Moscow believes the sale will deter what he
called "some hotheads" from considering options to send foreign forces
to intervene in the Syrian conflict.
But Ryabkov gave no indication of when Russia will transfer the air
defense system. Damascus signed a contract to buy it several years ago.
Israel and the United States have urged Russia not to proceed with the
sale, fearing the air defense system will threaten Israeli security and
complicate any military action they may take in Syria.
Israel's warning
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon toughened that message on
Tuesday, warning of possible retaliation if the Russian missile
technology is transferred.
"Obviously from our perspective it is a threat at this stage," he said.
"I cannot affirm that things have been expedited. The shipments are not
on their way yet, this I can say. I hope they will not leave and if,
God forbid, they reach Syria, we will know what to do."
Western sources said Israel carried out several air strikes in Syria
earlier this month, apparently to stop the Syrian government from
transferring sophisticated weapons to the pro-Assad Lebanese militant
group Hezbollah. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility
for the strikes.
The Russian deputy foreign minister also criticized an EU decision to
lift its arms embargo on the main opposition Syrian National Coalition
while maintaining sanctions against the Syrian government.
Ryabkov accused the 27-nation bloc of "pouring more fuel on the fire"
of Syria's civil war and "damaging" prospects for a U.S. and
Russian-proposed peace conference to resolve the two-year conflict.
EU action
The EU decided to lift the embargo on Syrian rebels at a meeting in
Brussels on Monday. But, EU officials gave mixed messages about when
such weapons transfers might begin.
Some officials said all EU members agreed to delay any arming of the
rebels until August 1 to allow the U.S.-Russian peace initiative to
proceed.
But British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday there is no
requirement to wait until August to send weapons, although he reiterated
that London has no immediate plans to do so.
Syrian National Coalition spokesman Louay Safi told the French news
agency that the EU move is a "positive step" but may be "too little, too
late."
In separate remarks to the news agency, a spokesman for the SNC-backed
Free Syrian Army criticized the EU, saying that delaying any arms
transfers by two months would leave the Syrian people vulnerable to
continued "genocide" by the Assad government.
Opposition in bind
Some analysts believe recent events may force the opposition’s hand.
At the IHS Jane’s security firm, analyst David Hartwell said Assad has
been strengthened in recent weeks by the Russian missiles, other weapons
from Iran, support from Lebanon's Hezbollah and recent battlefield
gains.
“All of these factors appear to be coalescing at this moment in time to
give him, or certainly give the appearance, that he can think about
long-term survival,” he said.
Hartwell said confidence is up within the Assad regime, and it could
press for more military advances in the coming days, including a
possible assault on the country’s largest city, Aleppo.
Syria-watcher Chris Doyle of the Council for Arab-British Understanding
said that Assad is in a strong enough position that he might survive
politically, at least during a transition period.
“I think that cannot be ruled out, as distasteful as that is, given his
record," he said. "If it is symbolic, then maybe that is something that
people will have to agree to, while holding their noses.”
Lebanon spillover
Meanwhile, there were more signs of Syria's conflict spilling over into Lebanon with deadly results.
Lebanese security sources said several rockets fired from Syria struck
the northeastern Lebanese town of Hermel near the border on Tuesday,
killing a woman and wounding several other people. Hermel's Shi'ite
population supports Hezbollah militants who have crossed into Syria to
fight alongside Assad's troops.
Lebanese authorities said unknown gunmen also killed three Lebanese
soldiers manning a checkpoint near the northeastern village of Arsal
before dawn Tuesday.
Lebanese Sunnis have used border villages such as Arsal to send weapons
and fighters into Syria to help the country's predominantly Sunni
rebels fight the Assad government.
EU Arms Embargo for Syria
- No longer forbids supplying arms to Syria's opposition forces
- No immediate arms shipments are planned
- Safeguards would ensure supplies are for protection of civilians
- Arms embargo was part of package of sanctions imposed in 2011
- EU plans further sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad's government
VOA's Al Pessin contributed to this report from London and Michael Lipin from Washington.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-says-missile-system-for-syria-will-deter-foreign-attacks/1669723.html
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