Through the Syrian Civil War, Israel has maintained nominal neutrality, while at the same time launching repeated airstrikes against Syrian military targets across the nation. Russia has, so far, looked the other way when this happened, and Israel wants to keep it that way.
So while Israel and Russia already have a “coordination” deal which is aimed at keeping Russian planes from going after Israeli jets during their attack runs, the addition of Russian S-300 missiles to the country has added another source of concern, and has Israel scrambling to revise the coordination deal.
The S-300 missile defense system is hugely advanced and covers a broad amount of territory, allowing Russia to essentially impose a no-fly zone over a vast area if it so chooses. The deployment is primarily aimed at blunting US threats to attack Syrian military bases with Russian soldiers on them, but Israel clearly could find itself in the line of fire too if a deal isn’t reached.
Israel’s attacks have largely been irrelevant to the Civil War itself, so Russia has mostly ignored them, though they have warned Israel away when warplanes have gotten close to the Russian naval base at Tartus. With Russia both increasingly on edge about being attacked in Syria, and having enhanced capabilities to respond to perceived threats, Israel likely will be locked out of Syria in the absence of such a deal.
This Israeli concern is about something else entirely. If the US attacks in Syria, and Russia starts using those missiles against aircraft as soon as possible, that could become a no-fly zone over Israel. Those missiles cover important parts of Israel, including its main airport. The Israelis want assurances that they won’t be caught up in the war the US may soon fight in Syria.
Anything we do in Syria is for Israel’s benefit. PERIOD.
It’s been reported that Russia fired missiles from the Med at an intelligence operations center manned by Israelis, Americans, Brits, et al. west of Aleppo, killing dozens, in retaliation for the “mistaken” bombing of the Syrian army near Deir az-Zor in September. This may have more to do with Israel’s overture than concern over S-300 missiles. No doubt nobody had informed the Russians about the center, so they could claim they thought they were hitting a terrorist base. We can’t admit it was one of ours as that would implicate us in supporting Islamic extremist groups. The Russians don’t want to brag about it because, if the Israeli or American public knew, there would be a hue and cry for retaliation. The Russians made their point, which should preclude future unfortunate “mistakes”, which is enough.
Where has that been reported? This is the first I’ve seen it. I think it likely, but I’d like to see it.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950631000607
This report has been widely considered bullshit, the multiple sources I’ve seen refute incline me to believe that this is the case.
Could you provide a refuting source. Thanks.
Oct 14, 2016 Putin on ideology – difference between Americans and Russians
Where does ideology end and culture begin? My view is that these concepts are used interchangeably by different people – and while I do not know Putin’s definition of ideology, I do think that America’s ideology is part of what forms it culture, as in Russia.
https://youtu.be/3JVR0zAiyw0
If Israel is looking for this it probably means the USA has something in mind. The election is less than 30 days so I would expect to see American military involvement in less than 90 days.