Victoria Craw – inews.co.uk May 20, 2022
S-300 on parade in Moscow. Click to enlarge
A Russian counter-attack on Israeli forces in Syria has raised fears of a potential escalation to the conflict, with experts fearing a similar provocation “within days”.
This week, Russia launched missiles on Israeli jets that had flown over Syria and struck targets north of Damascus. Several casualties were reported and the Syrian army returned fire from anti-aircraft systems.
Israel has launched hundreds of similar missions since the beginning of Syria’s civil war in 2011, often targeting adversaries Iran and Hezbollah which have established a presence in the country and facing down Syrian air defences.
However on this occasion, the retreating Israeli pilots were targeted by missiles from a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft system under the operational control of Russian officers, Israel’s Channel 13 reported. None of the missiles hit their targets.
Israel’s military maintains a policy of ambiguity over its operations in Syria, and would not comment on the report. But it was corroborated by defence correspondents at several leading Israeli outlets with close ties to the military establishment. Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not comment on the reports.
The incident marks the first known occasion that an Israeli strike has met with a response from Russian anti-aircraft systems – raising fears Russia could assert a more aggressive stance in Syria – even as it remains militarily bogged down in Ukraine.
“It’s quite obvious that the Russians don’t like the fact that we are operating in Syria,” says Channel 13 Defence Correspondent Alon Ben-David, who broke the story. “My interpretation is that the Russians are saying ‘you are walking on thin ice. Be careful, we are running out of patience.’”
Mr Ben-David says the event has led to concern within Israel’s military establishment about any potential Russian policy shift over Syria, amid questions over whether the event represents a one-off warning shot or a more serious challenge.
The next IAF mission in Syria will reveal more. “I believe the test will occur within days,” Mr Ben-David said.
Deconfliction under pressure
A deconfliction agreement has been in place since Russia entered the war in support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s side in 2015. The IAF notifies Russian counterparts before every strike.
This arrangement was strengthened after Syrian air defences shot down a Russian plane in 2018 with 15 casualties. Moscow held Israel responsible as Syrian forces were firing in response to an Israeli raid.
The incident also led Russia to introduce the S-300 systems, despite protests from Israel, which only Russian officers are authorised to fire.
Israel is acutely aware of the risks of escalation in Syria and is making diplomatic overtures to Russian counterparts in an effort to reduce tensions following the recent incident.
If Israeli jets come under fire again from Russian anti-aircraft systems “the Israeli military will do everything to avoid casualties,” says Mr Ben-David.
Nicholas Heras of the Newlines Institute has suggested Russia’s missile salvo in Syria was intended to ensure that Israel maintains neutrality.
“Russia is sending a strong signal to Israel that Jerusalem must be measured in its support for Ukraine or face consequences in Syria,” says Mr Heras. “Russia can impose costs on Israel’s freedom of action against Iran in Syria…Russia is also sending a broader message to the international community that it is not relinquishing its strategic position in Syria.
Israel has tried to maintain its historically close ties to Russia, strengthened by the large number of Russian-speaking Jews in Israel, despite the attempts by its Western allies to isolate Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sought to broker talks between Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the early days of the war, and Israeli officials avoided outright condemnation of Russia.
However that policy has been tested since. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov drew sharp rebukes from Israeli leaders after claiming Adolf Hitler has “Jewish blood” while depicting Zelensky – who is Jewish – as the leader of a Nazi regime, in line with Russia’s stated goal to “denazify” Ukraine.
Israel has refused requests to supply offensive military aid to Ukraine, and denied reports that it allowed Estonia to supply Ukraine with an Israeli-made anti-ship missile. But since the clash in Syria, the army has released pictures of defensive aid bound for Ukraine.
Both sides have incentives to avoid escalation, notes Marina Miron of the Centre for Military Ethics at King’s College London. “Being so isolated right now, it would not be a favourable time for Russia to try to eliminate Israel (from Syria)”, she said. Ms Miron suggests Israel’s diplomatic balance is easier than that of Turkey, which has not joined the Western coalition against Russia but supplied Ukraine with deadly drones.
fabulous thankyou russia
the British people are behind you
ALL israeli terrorism must stop
Keep in mind MOST of the corrupt Russian Oligarchs are jews…..is it logical to assume they have considerable influence within the Russian government.
Some people may have noticed that these Russian missiles never seem too bring down any jewish jets…..WHY NOT?.
Israel is not “operating in Syria” it is attacking Syria. They must be breaking every international law ever written about the sovereignty and security of nations. It’s time to restrain them under a boot. Violence is the only thing they understand so give it to them.
Putin cobarde se arrodilla ante Israel
The ally of my enemy is no longer my friend.
Hey Israel, keep your planes and missiles out of Syria, or else…
Putin!
Russia is foolish IMO for waiting so long to send such a “message”; and the “message” was a weak one at that.
And speaking of messages from Russia to the Satanists and their proxy forces, some of the U.S./NATO man-portable anti-air and anti-armor weapons supplied to Ukraine and captured by Russia need to find their way into the hands of armed groups in Syria opposed to the illegal U.S. presence in that country.
there was no syrian civil war
this was wrong it was the israeli dirty jews and USA having proxy mercenaries
attacking syria and its people
get it right
The jews are just using this to slit russian forces from the ukraine
people in the UK are sick to death of the damn jews
i hope some one bombs them soon
I doubt this. Were any Israeli planes hit? Why not? The S 300 system is old, but it works. Or was this just a hoax effort when the missile was command destroyed before intercept? I will believe when Israeli jets attacking Syria are actually shot down.
How dare they attack the Chosen Ones!!
Karen – CNN ‘Journalist’
FSB +Lawrov !
GET RIT OF CHABAD FRIEND PUTIN !
and install a real russian slavic goy as your
president not intangled in jewish affairs !
Oh. Surprise, surprise. Just like I said months ago – the Donbas and some eastern regions of the Ukraine for Syria. That is the deal. Of course they have to trump up the conflict to ensure that it does not appear to be a deal and ruin the trust and hopes of the locals and the onlookers. Besides they always like to seal their deals in blood. The Rothschild dynasty which backs and advances Israeli interests as its number one prodigy coincidentally has used Soros for nation destabilizing operations and take overs – exactly what occurred in the Ukraine. Then trough that catspaw of Soros puppets the regime of that nation was used to provoke conflict and invite Russia into that nation “coincidentally” after extensive negotiations between Russia and Israel.
Brain Blessed is absolutely correct in his comment above. Israel and Jewry are the enemy of humanity…
Fred B on May 21, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Oh. Surprise, surprise. Just like I said months ago – the Donbas and some eastern regions of the Ukraine for Syria.
simplicity /shill, there’s no single proof to back it up except Putin’s diplomacy to Jewry. is there any nation that Russia cut off? none! Putin’s diplomacy is closer to its enemy than allies. which nation has the ability to maneuver in such a complex intertwine as Russia today? it’s working. it saved humanity from the zionist evil plan. Ashkenazi move to ME is checkmated brilliantly.
that zionist apartheid state is cut off from new settlement invasion. and the ME masses surrounding the beast getting momentum by the day to suffocate that beast once and for all. H Kesinger has acknowledged that reality. in 20 years’ time no moe beast in ME. then followed the beast’s rescue mission in the form of bio-weapon and wwlll.