Moscow raises stakes in Syria and sends signal to Washington
Moscow’s decision to begin supplying the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Syria is a signal not only to Israel, whose aircraft previously operated virtually unhindered in Syrian airspace.
Kommersant writes about this, recalling that previously the Russian Federation never began delivering air defense systems at Israel’s request.
“But very soon, when the S-300 systems arrive at Syrian missile forces, Israeli aircraft will be forced to face a new, extremely unpleasant reality for them: flights over Syria, which were previously a cakewalk for them, will henceforth be fraught with mortal risk. In fact, with its decision to transfer the S-300 to Damascus, Moscow is closing the Syrian space to Israel,” the publication states.
Its author is confident that, in fact, the decision of the Russian side is a signal not only and not so much to Israel, but to their main strategic ally, the United States, which traditionally considers maintaining the security of the Jewish state its priority.
The newspaper also recalls that following the negotiations between Presidents Putin and Trump in Helsinki, the American president publicly admitted that his Russian colleague “is very actively involved in discussions with us, with Benjamin Netanyahu, in developing decisions” on Syria concerning “long-term security and Israel.” .
“However, the agreements with the United States on Syria ultimately resulted in a one-sided game. Having done so much to ensure Israel's security, Moscow has been unable to get anything in return from Washington other than new sanctions. Meanwhile, Russia could well count on some friendly gestures from the American side, on some, at least timid attempts to normalize relations.
The tragedy with the downed IL-20 actually gave Moscow a free hand and gave an opportunity to clearly explain that it is not going to solve the problems of the United States and Israel in Syria “for the good looks of it.” And now US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo calls the incident in the skies over Latakia one of the important topics of discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. What the outcome of this discussion will be depends on what Washington can offer Moscow,” the publication concludes.
Let us recall that earlier in the area of Syrian Latakia Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft disappeared from radar.
Later it became known that he was hit by Syrian S-200 air defense system, which went off in response to Israeli F-16s that were firing in the area.
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