There is no shortage of reasons to be concerned about the entangled drama unfolding in Syria, as Russia maneuvers on a shifting landscape that could see Israel and Iran collide in a direct confrontation.
Commentary in The Wall Street Journal on Monday urged caution on the part of Moscow, arguing that Russia has already nudged the regional arch-enemies closer to war. A recent Israeli strike on a base in Syria that killed seven Iranians, including four Quds Force officers, might have been swept under the rug by Iran, according to the author Dennis Ross, but Russia’s decision to call out Israel for the strike has forced Iran’s hand, increasing the likelihood of retaliation to save face.
Against this backdrop, Israel is warning Russia that air defense systems to be delivered to Syria will be in the Israeli air force’s crosshairs. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed reports this week that it planned to send Russian S-300 defense systems to the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad, prompting a response from Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
“One thing should be clear – if someone fires on our planes, we will destroy them,” Lieberman was reported by Haaretz as saying. “What’s important to us is that the weapons defense systems that the Russians transfer to Syria are not used against us. If they are used against us, we will act against them.”
Russian officials, cited in the initial Russian news report on S-300 delivery, cautioned against targeting the equipment. If Israel attacks them, they said, it will suffer “catastrophic consequences.”
Lieberman acknowledged that the S-300 systems were already being used in Syria, but only in defense of Russian assets. He made the distinction that they had not yet been “employed against Israel,” as paraphrased by Haaretz.
Vitus Ugwu …if not arrogance… boastful fool…? ????
John Khual Israel has balls because all of heaven is behind them
Will Sum well said. You are a wise man
Kamran Lashari l don’t think Isreal is shitting because of lran. They are stronger than all the middle East put together as witnessed by the world in past wars. Iran is hated by ALL the western allies and would have full support in an all out conflict
Israel has been issuing series of warnings to Iran but have not yet attacked it . It only attacks weak targets not a country like Russia that is more crazier than it is. Israel is not invincible only enjoying US superpowership which is vertically declining. My friend go back to history!
Anyway i trust Israel
Gentlemen if you are Bible readers and believe in God, look at Israel’s battles over the past 3000 years, as long as there’s a Sun and a Moon nobody will ever harm Israel, with or without the USA, that’s the mightiest nation on earth, amen
they have got the balls very well as they have been doing it.
You folk are dreaming….
Kamran Lashari israelis always know what they are talking about…Moscow knows very well….and bseides Russia has no real capability
Time to give Israel a kicking, won’t stop breaking international laws.They should nose out.
We shall all pray for peace in that volatile part of the world. War has never had a truethful justification.
Pp
Israel has a right to defend itself against any threat posed by reckless neighbors. Russia must stop arming President Assad.
S Nouh Yousuf he who first utter the word coward is the coward himself
Simdi Israel Bongs hhha correct
Joseph Mutumba, you don’t get it, do you? Fact is any statements issued by Israel about Syria and Russia, it is usually discussed with the US before its release.
Israel has many more friends than Russia and Iran. And like they say, when you have friends, you never walk alone.
Tandin Shunya Wangdi I’m not referring to the biblical fairytale of David and Goliath. Let us understand that today’s warfare is far way different from the past. First, the Russia of today is far different from the Soviet Union of the past. Second, modern warfare will be far different from the past as modern alliances and diplomatic understandings play vital to win a war. Should Russia make do of its threat to Israel, it’s not only Israel it will do with. And everybody knows what I mean. I’m not an idealist – I’m a realist.
I see soon to be deported blacks commenting on behalf of European wannabe joos.. What’s going on..
Abdirahim Abdullahi Alas – you are correct.