’Israel’ Implicitly Threatens Russia over S-300 Missiles to Syria

Local Editor

"Israel" covertly threatened Russia over the latter's delivery of S-300 air-defense missiles to Syria, implying that "Israel" is ready to use force to prevent the missiles from being delivered.

On Tuesday, "Israeli" Minister for Military Affairs Moshe Ya'alon commented on the plan, "Clearly this move is a threat to us."

"At this stage I can't say there is an escalation. The shipments have not been sent on their way yet. But if God forbid they do reach Syria, we will know what to do," he stated.

Likewise, "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had tried to convince Russia out of the sell early May, but has evidently failed to do so.

"Israel" repeatedly asked Russia to cancel the contract to sell Syria the highly advanced S-300 missile system, yet Russia has insisted that it will deliver the S-300 missile system to Syria, displaying unwavering concern to deter foreign intervention in Syria.

For the Russian part, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated earlier on Tuesday that Russia's delivery of S-300 air defense system to Syria is a "restraining factor against possible foreign interference in the Syrian conflict."

"We believe such steps are to a great extent restraining some ‘hot heads' from considering scenarios in which the conflict may assume an international scale with the participation of outside forces," Ryabkov added.

Ryabkov reiterated that Russia is merely honoring previously-concluded agreements with Damascus by supplying S-300 systems to Syria.

He further stressed that the systems are solely for defense purposes against airborne threats and cannot be used against civilians.

S-300 is one of the world's most advanced air defense systems.

"An S-300 battery would provide coverage of much of northern and central "Israel" if deployed in the south west of Syria for targets other than those at low altitude," Douglas Barrie, an air warfare analyst for International Institute of Strategic Studies, told RIA Novosti News Agency.

Among its most recent modifications are that it can shoot down hostile missiles or aircraft up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) away.

Source: News Agencies, edited by website team