What seemed like a done-done deal on the part of the Russians, is now being postponed or at least suspended. The deal to provide Syria with a battery of S300 missile battery, might take second place to a shipment of ten MIGs.
The reason for the change is simply the very real possibility that the Israeli Army has a definite superiority in the air and could simply beat or destroy the newly bought installations.
However, the S300 will not go to waste. News today are that they would be diverted to Iran, another of Russia's customers. This would mark a significant shift in Russia's policy which to date has always refused to furnish Iran with such arms.
But what is also evident is that Russia is willing to furnish Assad with more and more sophisticated weaponry, in an effort to keep the dictator in place.
But as long as Russia's influence on Assad remains steady, the conflict cannot be resolved, because it removes any chance of Assad feeling a need to compromise or come to the table.
What is more crucial, is that the weapons that Russia is willing to furnish Assad are not just defensive armament, but offensive ones as well. The antiaircraft missile battery, the S300, has a range of 200 miles, well capable of hitting both neighboring states and Israel.
Although Syria has claimed to have already received a shipment of the S300 missiles, Russia has denied having completed delivery and has stated that such delivery might not be effected until 2014, if at all.
Partial Source : Jerusalem Post 6.4.13
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