'Coordinating' with the Russians over Syria doesn't seem to be so much fun after all. According to
this story (translated from an Arabic original
here), the Russians have, in essence, threatened to shoot down any IAF jets targeting weapons convoys moving from Assad forces in Syria to Hezbullah in Lebanon.
“Moscow imposed on Tel Aviv a military coordination in advance for any
military operation carried against Syrian military targets or against
Hezbollah in Syria, to prevent any fatal accident. Senior military
officers on both sides will maintain regular meetings and contacts to
allow a smooth Russian military presence in Syria. Above all, Russia
would like to avoid shooting down an Israeli jet in case one of its
officers is hit by mistake while present in a convoy or in special
mission. Israel and Russia will also coordinate naval operations off the
coast of Syria, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, where there is a
large Russian naval base”, said a decision-maker source in Damascus.
You can bet that every weapons convoy to Hezbullah will now include a Russian officer.
According to the source, quoting a Russian envoy that referred
details of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “the promenade era of Israel
over the sky of Syria is ending. Israel agreed to stop hitting any
military target or convoy on Syrian land under any excuses or without
prior coordination with the liaison officers that will be established
starting form next October. President Putin opposed the U.S President
Barack Obama when he decided to hit President al-Assad. Therefore,
Netanyahu’s national security concern would be Russia’s priority. None
the less, Putin confirmed that Israel has the right to hit any military
convoy leaving Syria and entering the Lebanese soil if suspected of
carrying weapons to Hezbollah ».
“Russia is becoming the guarantor and the coordinator of rival
parties and countries, like Hezbollah, Syria and Israel as well as the
striking force against extremist groups the Levant, like Jabhat al-Nusra
(al-Qaeda in Sham) and the group called “Islanic State” (IS). Hezbollah
agreed to limit all military activities in Syria without hitting Israel
as long as the Russian forces are present on the ground and Israel
won’t hit Hezbollah in Syria” confirmed the source.
One has to wonder whether hitting such weapons convoys once they are in Lebanon is too late. That has been the presumed value all along of hitting them while they are still in Syria.
But the Russian intervention imposed a forced rhythm on the United
States and Europe to change the rules of the game. The international
focus needs to be orientated toward the fight against terrorism and not
to change Assad. With or without the Syrian President, ISIS and al-Qaeda
have no intention to leave the country. Therefore, the U.S current
method used to contain extremists by adopting a soft approach is not
successful. Russia believes a more rough methods are required and is
preparing to carry more raids in one single month, equivalent to nearly a
year of airstrikes carried by the coalition against terrorists”, said
the source.
In other words, because Obama never had a real policy, Russia will now 'have' to impose one. #ThanksObama.
So Russia threatens to shoot down IAF jets? Like they did in the War of Atrition?
ReplyDeleteThe Russian army is in a desolate state. Of course it is a big disturbance of Israel to have the Russians in their backyard, but I highly doubt that they will seek confrontation with the IDF. The only weapon they have is the usual worldwide condemnation of Israel whenever something happens. But a fight between Israel and Russia would show immediately how weak the Russian army is.
However I'm anything but happy about all this. I damn Hussein Obama for it, who is the greatest warmonger since Hitler and his fellow Stalin.
G-d bless Israel! Am Yisrael Hai.
Thank you, Carl from Jerusalem for your incredible blog. I follow you since many years.
So Russia threatens to shoot down IAF jets? Like they did in the War of Atrition?
ReplyDeleteThe Russian army is in a desolate state. Of course it is a big disturbance of Israel to have the Russians in their backyard, but I highly doubt that they will seek confrontation with the IDF. The only weapon they have is the usual worldwide condemnation of Israel whenever something happens. But a fight between Israel and Russia would show immediately how weak the Russian army is.
However I'm anything but happy about all this. I damn Hussein Obama for it, who is the greatest warmonger since Hitler and his fellow Stalin.
G-d bless Israel! Am Yisrael Hai.
Thank you, Carl from Jerusalem for your incredible blog. I follow you since many years.
So Russia threatens to shoot down IAF jets? Like they did in the War of Atrition?
ReplyDeleteThe Russian army is in a desolate state. Of course it is a big disturbance of Israel to have the Russians in their backyard, but I highly doubt that they will seek confrontation with the IDF. The only weapon they have is the usual worldwide condemnation of Israel whenever something happens. But a fight between Israel and Russia would show immediately how weak the Russian army is.
However I'm anything but happy about all this. I damn Hussein Obama for it, who is the greatest warmonger since Hitler and his fellow Stalin.
G-d bless Israel! Am Yisrael Hai.
Thank you, Carl from Jerusalem for your incredible blog. I follow you since many years.
I doubt the Russians actually imposed anything like this or that Israel would have agreed..especially since we're dealing with an Arab source not known for its veracity.
ReplyDeleteRussia has a significant trade with Israel in needed agricultural products and other items, (Russia still has problems feeding itself) and Gazprom has a stake in utilizing Israel's energy finds.
The actual agreement from what I've heard was for a hotline between Russian and Israeli military channels to facilitate communications during or after Russian or Israeli operations in Syria and avoid any unnecessary problems.
This is similar to what Israel has with the American military in the region.