Alwaght- News of Russia's increased military support for Syria has pervaded the front pages of newspapers, and newscast headlines. The US and Russia have engaged in military talks regarding Syria and no one is more intimidated by dialogue between the US and its foes than the Israeli regime.
The deployment of Russian troops and the arrival of the first Russian warplanes to Syria signal the initiation of a new phase in the near five-year long Syrian conflict. Next to Iran and Hezbollah, Russia is joining with the Syrian army to eradicate the terrorist groups that have permeated the country and pit it in a whirlpool of bloodshed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to schedule a trip to Moscow in an attempt to lobby against the military support, a scene reminiscent of 2013 when he went to Russia to press his case against the deployment of S300s which are now on their way to Iran.
Israeli officials said Netanyahu, who has expressed concerns about potential escalations in Syrian crisis, will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to “present the threats against Israel that arise as a result of the increased flow of advanced weapons into the Syrian arena and the trickle of deadly weapons to Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.”
While Russian military support means a stronger Syrian army and a disadvantage to the side fighting terrorists, it has developed much to the apprehension of the Israeli regime.
Such a development would be disadvantageous for Tel Aviv for two main reasons:
1. The very first would be maintaining stability and therefore reducing the opportunities for the Zionist regime to take advantage of a weak Syria as it is betting on toppling Assad's government in a bid to break the resistance axis comprising Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah. With Hezbollah fighters joining the fight in Syria, the Israeli regime believes it is buying time till the next war as long as the security situation in Syria is deteriorating.
2. Another downside for the Israeli regime would be the revitalization of the Syrian air force and possibly its missile defense if the Russians send batteries of advanced SA-22 anti-aircraft systems. In this case, the Israeli aerial invasion into Syria, like airstrikes it carried out in the past few years on Syrian territories, would be restricted. It would also raise the stakes if they clash with Russian troops, the repercussions of which would be more than the Israeli regime can handle.
