The U.S. government and the Russians may deny it, but war seems imminent in the Middle East.
Is a new war coming to the Middle East?
Yesterday (Wednesday), Israel made it very specific to the United States government that Russia plans to sell advanced ground-to-air missile systems to Syria. This in spite of a Western dialogue with Moscow to stand back with their old ally and see what happens.
According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials had told the Israelis they were studying Israel’s accusations, but were unavailable for comment at this time.
The Israelis claim the sale of S-300 missile batteries was near.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is looking to purchase the advanced S-300 missile batteries. Such advanced missiles can intercept both manned aircraft and guided missiles.
Here’s the catch in all this: The missile launches will come with direct orders from Moscow.
The Western nations, including Britain, Germany and France urge the Russians to block the sale. If they don’t, it could very well complicate any international intervention in Syria’s escalating civil war.
The pressure moves from the United States to the Russians at this juncture.
As the Wall Street Journal wrote, the information provided to the U.S. from Israel said “Syria has been making payments on a 2010 agreement with Moscow to buy four batteries for $900 million, including a payment made this year through Russia’s foreign-development bank, known as the VEB.”
If this were to happen, there very well be a war between Israel and Syria, with Iran possibly included.
The package from the Russians includes six launchers and 144 operational missiles, each with a range of 125 miles (200 miles), with an initial shipment expected in the next three months.
There will be no way the tiny nation of Israel can stand by and wait for that with their powerful and fully-equipped army.
Anxious officials at the White House, Pentagon, Tel Aviv and Moscow await the next directive.
A strike on a suspected nuclear site remains quite possible.
