Israel 'will know what to do' if Russia delivers S300 missiles to the Syrian regime
S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. Source: Russian Ministry of Defense
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Tuesday that the S-300 missiles destined for Syria despite Israeli objections, have not left Russia yet, adding that Israel will know how to react once the missiles get on the way to Syria, Reuters reports.
"I hope it won't be sent, but if it is, God forbid, we will know what to do," the Israeli defense minister said.
Yaalon's threat came hours after the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed on Tuesday, that Russia is going ahead with the transfer of the sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles S-300 to the Syrian government, saying that they will act as a deterrent to foreign intervention.
He also said that the air defense system missiles would act as a 'stabilizing factor' in the conflict that would dissuade foreign forces from joining the struggle to topple the Syrian president.
"We consider these supplies a stabilizing factor and believe such steps will deter some hotheads from considering scenarios that would turn the conflict international with the involvement of outside forces," he reportedly told journalists.
He further clarified that the systems are solely for defense purposes against airborne threats and cannot be used against civilians.
Ryabkov also claimed that the deal for the long-range S-300 missiles had been signed years ago. But he did not say when Moscow and Damascus signed the agreement for this deal.
It is worth mentioning that over the past few years different reports of arms deals between Russia and Syria have been published by media, most of the reports have proven inaccurate.
However, both the U.S. and Israel have strongly opposed the deal, insisting that supplying such an advanced anti-aircraft system to Syria would shift the military balance of power in the Middle East and it could end up in the hands of Hezbollah.
Military experts say, advanced versions of the S-300 air defense system has a radar that can track targets at a range of up to 300 kilometers. However it is considered to be comparable to the U.S. MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, and even better in terms of mobility and low altitude footprint. Moreover, It would enhance Syria's defenses, which did not deter Israel from launching three air strikes since last January targeting a shipment of missiles bound for Hezbollah, weapons warehouses and military installations in Damascus and its surroundings.
Early this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Syrian regime has already began payments for a $900 million purchase of an advanced air defense system from Russia and an initial delivery was due within three months. Neither Moscow nor Damascus comment on this report.
Sources:
Yent News
The Guardian
Al Arabiya