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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Russia to supply Syria , Hezbollah with missile systems |
| 2008-08-24 |
| Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad backed Russia's military action against Georgia at talks with President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday that were expected to cover purchases of Russian arms. A diplomatic source in Moscow told Interfax news agency on Wednesday Russia and Syria were preparing a number of deals involving anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems. Syria, a foe of Israel in the Middle East which stands accused by the United States of supporting international terrorism, become only the second country after Belarus to voice public backing for Russia's operation in Georgia. "We understand the essence of the Russian position and its military response," Assad told Medvedev at the start of their meeting in the Kremlin leader's Black Sea residence, Bocharov Ruchei. "We believe Russia was responding to the Georgian provocation," the Syrian president said. "I want to express my support for the Russian position in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.... We oppose attempts to tarnish Russia's position," Assad said. Syria is interested in Russia's Pantsyr-S1 air defence missile system, the BUK-M1 surface-to-air medium-range missile system, military aircraft and other hardware, Interfax quoted its diplomatic source as saying. Russian media quoted Assad as saying ahead of the visit that Syria was ready to negotiate hosting Russian surface-to-surface Iskander missiles, mid-range weapons which Moscow says are capable of beating any missile defence. Neither leader mentioned arms deals in their initial remarks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, asked by reporters about plans to sell Iskander missiles and other modern weapons to Syria, said: "We are ready to consider requests from the Syrian side on buying more arms. We are indeed prepared to sell only defensive weapons which are not breaking the regional balance of powers," he said. Lavrov said arms sales were part of Thursday's talks, but did not elaborate. Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni cited Syria's links with Iran, the Palestinian Hamas group Lebanon's Hezbollah and said, "it is a mutual interest of Russia, of Israel and of the pragmatic leaders and states in the region not to send long-range missiles to Syria" Hezbollah also buying arms from Russia In a related development Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera reported Friday that Lebanon's Hezbollah group had struck a deal with Russia on new air defense systems and anti-tank missiles. It said the deal was made in July when three Hezbollah officials travelled to Russia using Iranian passports and visited the Sixth International Fair for weapons and ammunition. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 HAARETZ > NASRALLAH: HEZBOLLAH'S NEXT VICTORY AGZ ISRAEL IS UNDISPUTABLE. Reaffirms that Hezb Hizb Huzb Husb will fire 11000 rockets at Israel iff IRAN is attacked. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-08-24 19:55 |
| #1 Oh goodie! More targets! |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2008-08-24 10:21 |