Russia sends advanced missiles to Syria, signaling commitment to Assad

New shipment of anti-ship missiles are equipped with advanced radar that makes them more potent, U.S. officials tell New York Times. Meanwhile, Russia sends a dozen warships to protect its naval base on Syria’s shores.

Haaretz

Russia has sent advanced anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing American officials.

The officials stated that the move exemplifies the extent of Russia’s support for the Syrian government and its embattled leader, President Bashar Assad.

The missiles, called Yakhonts, are equipped with an advanced radar that renders them more effective, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing classified intelligence information.

Unlike the long-range surface-to-surface missiles that stand at the Assad regime’s disposal, the Yakhont anti-ship missile system allows the Syrian military to stand against potential efforts by international forces to impose a naval embargo or a no-fly zone on the country, or to carry out limited airstrikes in support of the Syrian opposition.

Syria’s new weaponry would “tend to push Western or allied naval activity further off the coast” and was “a signal of the Russian commitment to the Syrian government,” said Jeffrey White, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former senior American intelligence official.

In addition, The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia has dispatched a dozen or more warships to patrol waters near its naval base in Syria, as part of the European country’s newly aggressive stance that evidently seeks to deter the West and Israel from getting involved the crisis in Syria.

These reports come just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him not to sell Syria anti-aircraft missiles.

Knesset Member Tzachi Hanegbi on Friday stressed that Israel has no interest in intervening in Syria’s civil war, but expressed hope that “the Russians understand that supplying missiles to what could be the most volatile and sensitive region in the world is not the solution.”

“The Russians are betting everything they have on the Assad card, and it’s unclear why,” Hanegbi said in an interview with Israel Radio.

According to the New York Times report, Syria had first ordered the Yakhont missiles from Russia in 2007, and received the first batteries – which did not include the advanced radar – in 2011. It initially ordered 72 missiles, 36 launchers and additional support equipment.

The missiles are 6.7 meters long and can reach a distance of 290 kilometers. Each missile has its own radar to help evade a ship’s defense system. The launchers are mobile, which makes them difficult to target.
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Syria crisis: Russia 'sends sophisticated weapons'

Russia signed the deal to supply Syria with Yakhont missiles in 2007
Russia has sent sophisticated anti-ship missiles to Syria, US media report.

The New York Times quotes unnamed US officials as saying the missiles could be used to counter any potential future foreign military intervention in Syria.

Without confirming details, Russia's foreign minister said Russian supplies did not break any international rules.

It comes amid growing alarm that chemical weapons may be being used in Syria, something US President Barack Obama has said would be "a red line".

Meanwhile efforts continue to arrange an international conference on Syria.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Mr Lavrov in Sochi on Friday to discuss the plans for the conference, which would aim to bring together the Syrian opposition and members of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

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Syria's Russian-made military

Nearly 5,000 tanks; 2,500 infantry fighting vehicles; 2,500 self-propelled or towed artillery units
325 Tactical aircraft; 143 helicopters
Nearly 2,000 air defence pieces
295,000 active personnel; 314,000 reserve personnel
Statistics: IISS

Why Russia sells Syria arms
At a news briefing, Mr Ban said it was important to "not lose momentum" on the drive towards holding a peace conference and dates for it were being "actively discussed".

Mr Lavrov said a resolution could only be found through "an inclusive all-Syrian dialogue with participation of all Syrian forces, without any external intervention, as soon as possible".

Also on Friday, the UN's refugee agency said more than 1.5m Syrians were now registered as refugees, with the true figure likely to be much higher.

"Refugees tell us the increased fighting and changing of control of towns and villages, in particular in conflict areas, results in more and more civilians deciding to leave," UNHCR said in a statement.


The BBC's Ian Pannell reports from inside Saraqeb. Guidance: This video contains disturbing images
'Ship-killers'
Russia is one of Syria's few remaining allies and its major arms suppliers. Over the years, in contracts worth billions of dollars, it has sold thousands of tanks, artillery units, aircraft, helicopters and defence systems to Damascus.

According to the New York Times report, a recent Russian shipment to Syria included an advanced form of the Yakhont, a 6.7m-long (22ft) missile with a range of 290km (180 miles) and carrying either a high-explosive or armour-piercing warhead.

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Analysis


Jonathan Marcus
BBC diplomatic correspondent
The Yakhont is a radar-guided, supersonic anti-shipping missile designed for coastal defence. Depending upon its trajectory it has a range of between 120 and 300 km (75-186 miles).

US reports stress the ability this gives to the Assad government to push hostile naval forces away from Syria's shores.

But the real significance of these reports, if true, is twofold. Firstly they show Russia's continuing desire to ensure that there be no Western intervention in Syria along the lines of what happened in Libya. Russian naval deployments in the Mediterranean back up this view.

But equally the real concern about the Yakhont may be their potential transfer to Syria's Lebanese ally Hezbollah. Israel has made it clear that a transfer of the Yakhont represents a red line that could prompt more air strikes against Syrian arms depots.

The initial order - for 72 missiles along with launcher and support vehicles - was placed in 2007 and the first deliveries received in early 2011, said the paper. It quotes two unnamed senior US defence officials as saying the most recent shipments had more advanced radar guidance systems, enabling it to evade a ship's defences.

Sergei Lavrov said on Friday he did not understand "why the media is trying to create a sensation out of this".

"We have not hidden that we supply weapons to Syria under signed contracts, without violating any international agreements, or our own legislation.

"And we most importantly supply anti-aircraft system, and it doesn't create any imbalance of power in the region or any kind of advantages in the fight against the opposition."

Another US newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, reports that Moscow has deployed at least a dozen warships to patrol waters near the Russian naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus.

It quotes a senior US defence official as saying the deployment is a "show of force" by Moscow to demonstrate its commitment to the region.

Although there have been growing calls for arms to be channelled to the rebel fighters in Syria, there has so far been very limited enthusiasm in the West for outright military intervention.

But there is concern that the presence of sophisticated Russian-supplied weaponry will make it much harder to agree and carry out such intervention, implement a blockade or conduct targeted airstrikes in the future.

Nick Brown, editor-in-chief of the influential military journal Jane's International Defence Review, said the Yakhont was "a real ship killer".

"It enables the regime to deter foreign forces looking to supply the opposition from the sea, or from undertaking a more active role if a no-fly zone or a shipping embargo were to be declared at some point" he told the Times.


International pressure is growing to stop the conflict getting worse
Israel is also concerned such weapons could fall into the hands of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which could use them to either attack Israel or defend itself against any Israeli assault.

During his visit to Moscow on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly discussed the issue with Mr Putin, while Israeli jets have carried out strikes on Syrian targets to block alleged transfers of weapons to Hezbollah.

Despite its arms sales, Russia has hosted several world leaders in recent weeks in an attempt to find a way of ending the Syrian conflict, which has left an estimated 80,000 people dead.

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg is Moscow says the fact that Mr Ban, Mr Netanyahu, US Secretary of State John Kerry and UK Prime Minister David Cameron have travelled to Russia for talks shows they believe Moscow is the key to ending the crisis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22565405

Russian Arms Shipment to Syria ‘Destabilizes’ Region, Says Livni
‘Israel Has Right To Defend Itself’ She Declares

JTA
Israeli Justice Minister Tzippi Livni warned that “Israel has a right to defend itself” in the wake of reports that Russia provided advanced naval missiles to Syria.
“We see that Syria is disintegrating and a weapons shipment is certainly not a positive development, it destabilizes the area,” Army Radio quoted Livni as saying in reaction to a New York Times report Friday that Russia has sent advanced antiship Yakhont cruise missiles to Syria.

She added: “Israel has a right to defend itself. Elaborating on this issue is ill-advised.”

According to the Times, quoting U.S. intelligence sources, the Yakhonts recently delivered to Syria are equipped with advanced radar, making them more effective than earlier batches sent by Russia to Syria.

“It enables the regime to deter foreign forces looking to supply the opposition from the sea, or from undertaking a more active role if a no-fly zone or shipping embargo were to be declared at some point,” said Nick Brown, editor in chief of IHS Jane’s International Defense Review. “It’s a real ship killer.”

Israel is believed to have carried out three strikes on Syria this year, targeting weapons transfers. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Netanyahu reportedly asked Putin to prevent the supply to Syria of Russian S-300 air defense systems.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Thursday that Russia would remain committed to “agreements pertaining to aerial defense weapons,” Ynet reported.

Russia has until now heeded U.S. and Israeli requests to delay delivery of the S-300 systems.
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Admin a scris:Russian Arms Shipment to Syria ‘Destabilizes’ Region, Says Livni
‘Israel Has Right To Defend Itself’ She Declares

ei au dreptul sa se apere ,vecinii lor nu au acest drept ? In definitiv ei vor ca ceilalti sa lupte cu praştii şi aruncări de pietre in timp ce israelienii, direct sau prin interpuşi îi măcelăresc din aer sau îi zdrobesc sub şenile.Mare, mare tupeu au acesşti rasisişti genocidari.