Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The Russian - Israeli Military Alliance Over Syria

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot (left) with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army General Valery Vasilevich Gerasimov, September 21, 2015. . (photo credit:IDF)

Jerusalem Post: 'Israel, Russia to coordinate in air, sea, and electromagnetic arena'

For first time, chiefs of staff from Russia and Israel hold direct meeting.

The IDF and Russian military will set up a joint working group to coordinate their Syria-related activities in the aerial, naval, and electromagnetic arenas, a senior defense source said Monday. The source spoke soon after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot returned from a one-day visit to Moscow, following intensive meetings on Russia’s newly expanded military role in Syria.

According to foreign reports, the Israel Air Force has launched multiple air strikes in recent years to intercept Iranian and Syrian weapons that were on the way to Hezbollah storage facilities in Lebanon.

Israel has shared concerns with Russia that it’s interceptions could be compromised if military coordination is not put into place soon.

WNU Editor: It looks like Russia is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in the Middle East. What helps is that Putin has taken the time to develop personal relationships with almost every Middle Eastern leader .... including with the Saudis ... and now clearly with the Israelis. The idea that Russian and Israeli military forces would now be coordinating their military operations over Syria is something that I am still trying to digest .... especially since I never believed that such a relationship would have even been impossible. This reveals how much the Middle East has changed in the past few years .... and how much it is probably going to change in the coming years. On a personal note .... the last time that I felt like this was when the Berlin Wall fell followed soon by the breakup of the Soviet Union .... but unlike what happened 25 years ago when I felt optimistic/hopeful about the future .... what is happening right now in the Middle East fills me with dread. And as this catastrophe unfolds .... where is the U.S.? To say that the U.S. has lost influence in the region is an understatement ... President Obama and US Sec. of State John Allies have no allies or friends in the region any-more .... and the impression that I am getting from the people that I know in the region is that the U.S. administration has also lost its respect.

The Russian - Israeli Military Alliance Over Syria

PM: Israel, Russia establish 'mechanism' to prevent 'misunderstandings' in Syria -- Jerusalem Post
Israel, Russia to coordinate military action on Syria: Netanyahu -- Reuters
Israeli, Russian armies plan Syrian coordination talks -- Times of Israel/AFP
Israeli, Russian military chiefs to set up body coordinating activities in Syria -- i24 News
Report: Israeli Defense Official Says IDF, Russia to Coordinate Aerial Activities Over Syria -- Algemeiner
Israel and Russia reach deal to avoid accidentally trading fire in Syria -- ABC News (Australia)
Russia seeks to allay Israel fears over Syria build-up -- BBC
Putin to Netanyahu: Syrian army too busy saving country to threaten Israel -- RT
Russia to allow Israeli strikes on Syrian arms transfers, PM says -- Times of Israel
In Moscow, presence of IDF generals sends a message of military urgency -- Times of Israel
Could Syria Spark Armed Conflict Between Israel and Russia? -- Micah Halpern, Observer

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