Russia to send missles to Syria
RUSSIA yesterday raised the stakes in the Middle East by vowing to supply the murderous Syrian regime with air defence missiles.
Israel hinted at strikes on Syria, declaring that if the missile system was delivered it “would know what to do”.
The Moscow move came just hours after Britain and France forced the EU to lift an embargo on arming Syrian rebels who are battling president Bashar Assad.
Britain and France now have the freedom to arm moderate rebels from August 1.
They have agreed to delay any decision until after peace talks being organised in Geneva next month by the US and Russia.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “While we have no immediate plans to send arms to Syria, it gives us the flexibility to respond in the future if the situation continues to deteriorate.”
There are concerns that arming the rebels could backfire if the weapons get into the hands of Al Qaeda linked groups. Russia – Assad’s biggest ally – said lifting the embargo was “throwing fuel on the fire”.
Israel fears the missiles could be used to target flights in its airspace. Last night its defence minister Moshe Yaalon said the missile systems had not yet left Russia. “I hope they will not leave, and if, God forbid, they reach Syria, we will know what to do,” he said.