Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting.
A note from the author:
The S-300P threats against Israel are the major story.
To wit, these stories illustrate the serious nature of Russia’s threats against Israel.
- Russia Warns Israel Against Hitting Its S-300s Missile In Syria | Independent Newspapers
- Russia Warns Of ‘Catastrophic’ Consequences If Israel Strikes S-300 Defense System in Syria – Breaking Israel News | Latest News. Biblical Perspective.
Israel’s response.
- Israel threatens Syrian regime over Russia’s delivery of S-300 – Daily Sabah
- Israel may hit Russian S-300 in Syria, Lieberman says after threats of ‘catastrophic consequences’ – Haaretz.com
Now add in Russia’s threat to make Russia Israel’s de facto target, purposefully provoking a major incident if Israel does strike the Syrian S-300 systems, but manned by Russian personnel.
From the author’s notes.
Media reports claiming the Syrian S-300PMU2 Favorit / SA-20B will be crewed by Russian VKS personnel rather than Syrian missileers.
The really bad thing is that the mainstream media is not picking up this story. Russia is de facto causing an international incident, provoking Israel. Russia knows, however, that Israel doesn’t make idle threats. Israel removes threats, they act decisively and strategically.
Israel will probably strike, give an advanced and very public warning to evacuate any Russian personnel, and then remove the systems from the face of the earth. Russia can scream and shout all they want, but if Israel warns them, Russian protests are moot. This story is really about dealing with a strategic threat to Israel. All in all, this is worth watching.
</end editorial>
Russia’s self-flagellation campaign continues, with new mythological claims emerging on the Salisbury case. Russia objects loudly to the G7 criticisms of Russian behavior, and G7 endorsement of the UK and OPCW conclusions. Russian threats against Israel over the proposed supply of S-300PMU2 Favorit / SA-20B to Syria are not retracted, Israelis respond as expected. Media reports claiming the Syrian S-300PMU2 Favorit / SA-20B will be crewed by Russian VKS personnel rather than Syrian missileers. TASS report that if Russian VKS S-300PM2 systems are directly supplied to Syria, they could be delivered in about one month, if these S-300PM2 systems are modified to the S-300PMU2 Favorit export configuration, several months. Telegram debacle continues in Russia.
In the UK, Salisbury decontamination operations ramp up. The mess is substantial, including the main Police station.
The major debate around Syria is centered on the Russian proposal to deploy the S-300PMU2 Favorit / SA-20B systems. Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman publicly states Israel will destroy the S-300PMU2 Favorit / SA-20B systems if used against Israel, after asking Russia nicely not to supply them. Numerous backfill reports on Syria.
Salisbury attack: Russia claims the Skripals could be dead
Vladimir Chizhov suggested the Skripals may not have even been poisoned. Russia is promoting the idea that Sergei and Yulia Skripal could be dead, as the fallout from the Salisbury spy poisoning continues. With numerous conspiracy theories promoted by Russia about what exactly happened in the nerve agent attack on the streets of Britain, a high-ranking official has suggested the Skripals may not have even been poisoned. Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian Ambassador to the EU, made the extraordinary claim as he stated that the British Government has been ‘more successful in dividing the EU than we would have ever been’. He told Euractiv: ‘The Brits have effectively prevented any evidence from becoming public. ‘Can somebody say if the Skripals are alive today? We only have statements from the British side.
G7 foreign ministers have sided with the UK in assigning blame for the Salisbury poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal to Russia. The ministers “share and agree” on the assessment that Moscow was “highly likely” behind the attack.
Russian TV Uses Film Stills as Proof Syria Chemical Attack Was Staged
State-run television in Russia used behind-the-scenes photographs from a Syrian film as evidence that the reported chemical attack was staged. Russia and its ally Syria deny Western claims that scores of people were gassed to death in the suspected attack on the Syrian town of Douma on April 7.
Russia Warns Israel Against Hitting Its S-300s Missile In Syria | Independent Newspapers
Russia may hand over its powerful S-300 missile defense system to Syria in the near future, despite opposition from Israel and other Western powers, the Russian daily Kommersant reported Monday, citing anonymous military sources.
“If Israel decides to carry out rocket strikes on the deployment locations of the S-300, the consequences will be catastrophic for all sides.”
Russia could be about to supply the advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Syria and has warned of “catastrophic” consequences for all sides should Israel attack the missile batteries, according to a report in the Russian daily Kommersant, citing anonymous military sources. According to Kommersant, Russia could supply the long-range surface-to-air missiles free of charge to Damascus within the framework of its military aid to the Bashar Assad regime. The report said that components of the S-300, including radar stations, control posts and launchers would soon be delivered to Syria by the Russian military either by air transport or via the Russian Navy, which has a base at Tartus on the Syrian coast.
Russian official: Israel is delaying end of Syrian war | JerusalemOnline
Amid the reports claiming that Russia is planning to transfer an S-300 missile system to Syria, a top official in Moscow claimed that the if the system arrives in the Arab country, only Russians will be allowed to operate it. In addition, the official said that Israel’s activities in Syria are delaying the end of the civil war.
Russia could supply Syria with advanced S-300 missile systems in the near future, Russian military sources have told the Kommersant newspaper, warning Israel would “suffer catastrophic consequences” if it attacked the system. The daily newspaper said experts believed Israel would react negatively to any decision to supply the missiles to Syria, and might bomb the area where they would be deployed.
TASS: Military & Defense – Russia capable of providing S-300 to Syria within one month — source
According to the source, there are two options of delivering the S-300 to Syria
https://twitter.com/dressler_w/status/838411350258876417
UAWire – Russia may start supplying Syria with S-300 missile systems
Russia has the technical capability to supply Syria with S-300 anti-air missile systems within a month, by using what the Russian military …
When will Russia deploy anti-aircraft missile defense system to Syria?
According to reports in a Russian paper, Moscow will deliver the advanced anti-aircraft system to Syria “soon”, and warned Israel to stay away. By: Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News Senior Russian officials told the Kommersant newspaper on Monday that following the April 14th missile strike on Syrian facilities by an American, French and British task force, Russia will be bringing its S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system to Syria “soon” to protect its ally from further attack. According to the report, the Russians won’t even charge Syria for it.
Assad to Get Free S-300 Missile Systems From Russia, Sending Strong Message to Israel
Moscow will equip Syria’s armed forces with S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, Russian officials have reportedly said, raising the prospect of fresh tensions in the region. The Kremlin, which in previous years had bowed to Israeli pressure to not supply the systems to Damascus, has threatened
An ‘internet civil war’ has erupted in Russia | Russia News | Al Jazeera
Attempts to block popular messaging app Telegram have backfired in Russia.
Google: Russia blocks some services in battle with Telegram
Russia has started blocking some Google services, accusing the search company of helping Telegram bypass a ban.
Google Services Blocked in Russia Following Telegram Ban
Russian users are experiencing difficulty accessing Google services such as Gmail and YouTube after authorities blacklisted some of the tech giant’s IP addresses. “We are aware of reports that some users in Russia are unable to access some Google products, and are investigating those reports,” said Google Russia in a Twitter statement. Russia’s state communications regulator Roskomnadzor blocked Telegram last week after the messaging service refused to comply with a court order to grant security services access to its users’ encrypted communication. Roskomnadzor announced Sunday that it had blacklisted an unspecified number of Google IP addresses that Telegram was using to sidestep the ban. An online service map that monitors live website outages worldwide showed concentrated Google and YouTube search and log-in issues in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Roskomnadzor said Tuesday it had blocked 18 sub-networks and a significant number of IP-addresses belonging to Google and Amazon, preventing Russian users from accessing Telegram and other services that route content through the tech giants. Telegram has been using a technique that allows it to “hop” to a new IP address when the one it’s using is blocked by the Russian censors.
The G7 Foreign Ministers endorsed the UK position that Russia was “highly likely” responsible for the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the United Kingdom, reports Sputnik.”We share, and agree with, the U.K.
Sputnik: G7 States Agree With UK That Russia ‘Highly Likely’ Responsible for Skripal Case
Toronto. The G7 Foreign Ministers endorsed the UK position that Russia was…
Police services in Salisbury are facing major upheaval as a multi-million-pound contamination project gets underway to clean-up the after-effects of the nerve agent attack. The city’s main police station – which shares its Bourne Hill office premises with Wiltshire Council – has been closed for up to eight weeks. The police enquiry desk has been moved – with slightly more restricted opening hours on a five-and-a-half-day roster – to nearby Salisbury Library. The city’s Community Policing Team will work out of Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre during the temporary arrangements with police teams at Amesbury, Alderbury and Wilton stations also affected. The decontamination work is being carried out at nine locations after toxic ‘hotspots’ were discovered following the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on March 4. Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter were left in a critical condition after being found unconscious on a city centre bench. Wiltshire Police officer Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, a first responder to the couple, was also left in a serious condition. Both Ms Skripal and the officer have been allowed home from hospital but Mr Skripal is still being treated. He is recovering more slowly but is expected to eventually be discharged. A small amount of the nerve agent Novichok – in liquid form – is believed to have been used to target Sergei and Yulia Skripal. The UK government says the military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia was used in the attack, although Moscow totally denies any involvement. Chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Ian Boyd has told a public meeting to make an assumption that in certain circumstances there will be relatively high concentrations of the nerve agent, probably in very, very specific locations, which could be at levels that could be toxic to individuals. The evidence room and two lockers inside the police station, sealed off after the attack, will require testing and the removal of items and cleaning. Other areas to be treated include the home of Det Sgt Bailey, two ambulance stations and a car compound. Mr Skripal’s home – where the highest concentrations were found – will be the last site to be decontaminated. Experts say the nerve agent does not evaporate or disappear over time and intense cleaning with caustic chemicals is required to get rid of it. Almost 200 military personnel will help with the decontamination work, which is expected to cost millions of pounds. Wiltshire Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: “Our number one priority is to bring the potentially contaminated sites back into use as soon as possible.
Skripal poisoning: Salisbury clean-up begins in bench area – BBC News
Nine Salisbury are to be decontaminated after the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in March.
Nearly two months after they were targeted, soldiers are focusing on nine locations believed to be affected by the novichok nerve agent used in the March 4 attack
Army Trucks Start Clean-Up Operation In Salisbury
The trucks are thought to be taking part in a huge decontamination project that could take several months.
Army trucks arrive to start clean-up in Salisbury after Skripal poisoning
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are recovering after being found slumped on a bench in Salisbury more than seven weeks ago.
G7 foreign ministers condemn Russian behaviour, says it impedes cooperation
Foreign ministers from Group of Seven leading industrialized nations on Monday united to condemn Russia for what they called “a pattern of irresponsible and destabilising” behaviour and urged Moscow to help resolve the conflict in Syria.
The G7’s foreign and interior ministries are holding overlapping talks in Toronto, where Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, has pushed Russia to the top of a packed agenda.
Even when it doesn’t explicitly refer to Russia, the schedule of the G7 foreign and security ministers meeting in Toronto, which began Sunday and continues for the next two days, is loaded with references to cybersecurity and reinforcing democracy.
G7 summit: Russia must be held accountable for aggression in Ukraine – U.S. State Dep. | UNIAN
The U.S Department of State says the G7 countries stand united in the commitment to hold Russia accountable for its activities in Ukraine. The ministers also said Russia must be a constructive partner in Syria, or it will be held accountable.
Ukraine’s foreign minister warns G7 of threat to western democracy from Russia | National Post
Pavlo Klimkin said Russia’s use of Ukraine as a test ground for an information war is part of a bigger attack ‘against the democratic transatlantic community’
Johnson: G7 officials focus on Russia’s ‘malign’ behavior – The Washington Post
Cabinet ministers from the G7 countries have committed to taking Russia to task for what Britain’s foreign secretary described Monday as a broad range of “malign” behavior
G7 To Set Up Group To Study Russia’s ‘Malign Behavior’
The Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries has decided to create a working group to address what British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called Russia’s “malign behavior.”
UK: G-7 to Set Up Group to Study Russian ‘Malign Behavior’
At meeting in Toronto, group’s foreign ministers agree on need for greater vigilance about Russia’s actions
Lieberman: we’re ready to destroy Russian s-300 in Syria | The Sivertelegram
If Syria used against Israeli troops Russian anti-aircraft systems, the Israel defense forces, without delay, retaliate, he warned the defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman. “It’s important for us to have defensive weapons which the Russians supply Syria had not been used against us. If they used it against us, we will act against them”, – said the head of the defense Ministry portal Ynet. We will remind, yesterday the head of the General staff of the armed forces of Russia Sergey rudskoy, Russia on a gratuitous basis to supply Syria anti-aircraft s-300.
Report: Israel asked Moscow not to give Syria advanced missiles
Speaking on condition of anonymity, Russian diplomat says Jerusalem asked the Kremlin to refrain from supplying President Bashar al-Assads army with S-300 missile systems; report comes as Foreign Minister Lavrov says Russia has still not decided on the matter, but would make no secret of it once it had.
Israel threatens Syrian regime over Russia’s delivery of S-300 – Daily Sabah
Israel’s defense minister warned yesterday his country would destroy any advanced Russian air defense system deployed in Syria that are used against…
Russia to send advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Assad, officials said Monday, warning Israel not to attack the new air defense systems
Israel can deal with Russian supply of S-300 missiles to Syria
Analysis: Moscow’s announcement that it will consider selling Assad long range surface-to-air missile systems should be taken seriously, but Americas and Israels knowledge of the system’s features has made it possible for Western countries to develop ways of disrupting and neutralizing its abilities.
Egozi: S-300 Missiles in Syria Are a Big Headache for Israel – iHLS
By Arie Egozi All signs show that the Russians are about to supply their S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Syria. This is raising the level of concern in Israel. The U.S.-led missile strikes on Syrian regime chemical weapon sites seem to open the way for the supply of the advanced missile systems to Syria. Some sources claimed that the Russians have started a massive supply of advanced weapon systems to Syria under the cover of an actual physical smokescreen that they create at the ports, among other sites, to which the systems are delivered. This is designed reinforce the Arab defense capability of Syria and Russia.
Would Putin really do it?
A summit may yet happen, but U.S. and Russian interests in Syria are so divergent I find it hard to imagine a successful outcome.
How Bashar Al Assad Ceded Syrian Sovereignty to Win the Civil War | Al Bawaba
Assad is going to win the military war over Syria. But in so doing, he may be losing political control over his country. Iranian and local militias are forcing Assad to concede many governing powers. Syria is becoming a feudal kingdom, says some experts.
Iran’s President Warns Trump To Stay In Nuclear Deal Or ‘Face Severe Consequences’
Iranian President Hassan Rohani has warned U.S. President Donald Trump not to pull out of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, saying that the United States will face “severe co…
Trump’s revenge: U.S. oil floods Europe, hurting OPEC and Russia
MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) – As OPEC’s efforts to balance the oil market bear fruit, U.S. producers are reaping the benefits – and flooding Europe with a record amount of crude. Russia paired with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries last year in cutting oil output jointly by 1.8 million
US sanctions on Turkey for Russia purchases could ground Brit F-35s • The Register
Ankara claims to have agreed to purchase the Russian S-400 missile system, which could potentially lead to sanctions under section 231 [of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act] and adversely impact Turkey’s participation in the F-35 programme. This is because Turkey is an F-35 customer. Testing F-35s against a Russian-made air defence system inevitably raises fears that vital information on neutralising the F-35 threat would then be handed to the Russians on a plate. Reg comment The situation is a sticky one. Turkey is a vital NATO ally: it has the ability to bottle up Russia’s southern naval fleet in the event of WWIII breaking out by closing the Bosphorus, the strait between Europe and the Middle East. Recognising its position, Turkey has received great quantities of mostly American largesse, mainly consisting of top-end military technology, through the simple method of batting its eyelashes at Russia while pointedly glancing back at the US. The country builds components for the F-35 fighter jet and also, critically, is the American-designated engine overhaul plant for European F-35 customers. That means any US efforts to put sanctions on Turkey would have a big impact on Britain’s F-35s, which will be the only fast jets capable of flying from our Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Though it is quite unlikely that the US will actually put sanctions on Turkey (something that would almost certainly push Turkey, and all its sensitive American tech, even closer to Russia), such a move would, in the medium term, leave increasing numbers of vital British-owned fighters grounded.
Operation Opera – The Raid on the Iraqi Nuclear Reactor – Defence Aviation
Operation Opera was a 1981 surprise Israeli air strike that destroyed the Iraqi nuclear reactor under construction in Osirak. While the attack, codenamed “Operation Opera,” surprised the Iraqis and the rest of the world, it had long been in planning. It was only after the failure on the diplomatic front, and the consultation of military and intelligence experts with Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s cabinet, that Israel chose to go ahead with the attack on the Iraqi reactor. By the end of the seventies, Iraq purchased an “Osiris” class nuclear reactor from France. Israel’s intelligence assumed this was a step taken by Iraq to produce Plutonium for an atomic bomb. According to Israeli intelligence, the summer of 1981 would be the last chance to operate against the reactor, without putting the population of Iraq in danger of nuclear fallout, since at this stage the reactor wasn’t operational and not loaded with its nuclear fuel.
