Russia Sends Syria More Military Aid

Russia Sends Syria More Military Aid

This post is also available in: heעברית (Hebrew)

Russia is sending Pantsir-S1 advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Syria, according to Defense World. “This system is the advanced version used by Russia and it’s meant to be operated by Russians in Syria,” a Western diplomat was quoted as saying by Israeli media.

The delivery would not be the first time Moscow had sent the SA-22 system, known as Pantsir-S1 in Russian, to Syria. It had been sent in 2013. However, the version of the SA-22 (Pantsir-S1) on its way to Syria was newer than previous missile systems deployed there, various media reported Friday.

The US has been leading a campaign of air strikes in Syrian air space for a year, joined by aircraft from European and regional allies including Britain, France, Jordan and Turkey. US forces operating in the area are concerned about the potential introduction of the weapon, the Western diplomat said.

Russia has been sending troops and equipment to Syria but its intentions are unclear, the US officials added. The US would risk “unintended incidents” if it chose not to engage in military-to-military cooperation with his country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

Russia’s actions in Syria have made it clear that it will not let Assad fall. Although he can’t win, Russia won’t let him lose. That dooms Syria to what looks like endless war, as Assad fights to the last man, placing the US in a very dangerous position as it decides on its course of action in light of Russia’s aid to a regime the US opposes.

Subscribe to our newsletter.