The Russian delegation has just landed in Tel Aviv for a two-day official visit. The theme of the meeting is the coordination between the two armies both present in the Region in the new Middle Eastern chessboard following the Syrian crisis. However, there is a crucial point, which went unnoticed by most. Although it does not officially exist, Putin has already established a no-fly-zone thanks to the deployment of the missile cruiser Moskva (photo below) to protect the coastal city of Latakia.
We know that the Moskva battle group consists of five Russian warships and at least one attack submarine. Just the "carrier-killer" deployed before the Syrian coasts, is carrying out another unofficial task: a no-fly zone that includes most of Syria and part of Israel (including the Golan). Even more worrying is the fact that the defensive screen also covers the southern part of Turkey and those bases used by the USA for the raids in Syria.
A single boat, the question could be lawful for non-experts, could it really discourage US-led coalition fighters? The answer is yes, because the Moskva carries with it 64 ground-air missiles S-300 PMU-1 / 2. Those 64 latest-generation missiles capable of shooting down both fighters and ballistic missiles make the Slava class carrier a coalition nightmare. If to this we add that the one before the Syrian coasts is the most powerful ship ever built by the Soviet Navy, designed expressly to devastate the US aircraft carriers (not for nothing the Slava are nicknamed "carrier-killer" with its SS-N-12 Sandbox launched into swarms), the picture appears even more sinister.
Putin, it is clear, has succeeded where the Obama administration has failed. The White House since the 2012 has repeatedly proposed the establishment of a no-fly zone in Syria, but the verbal intention has never had an operational implication. Moscow, however, has already imposed it in just a few hours (making a mockery of the West: it has not handed over the S-300 to the Syrians, but has deployed 64 to protect Damascus on a warship).
But we still reason for absurdity (absurd?). If Putin communicated to the world that he had established a no-fly zone under the pretext of a safe air corridor to hit ISIS, the coalition should review its entire strategy because it will be forced to coordinate every operation with Syria, Russia and Lebanon.
The alternative? It exists, of course. The only risk is that of flying in an air space protected by latest-generation missile batteries. If Putin really communicated the entry into force of the no-fly zone - commented the intelligence site DEBKA - no air force present in the Region could stand up because it would be at the mercy of the S-300. Those 150 km of autonomy are a nightmare for Israeli, British, Jordanian and Turkish fighters. The Americans themselves mostly have F-16 fighters in the Region that would not stand a chance against similar shielding.
They add from Israel. "If Obama really wanted to respond to Russian moves in Syria, he would have to deploy his stealth component in Turkey and Israel. A passage that has not happened, perhaps, so as not to damage the already precarious relationship with Iran ".
Beyond what will be discussed tomorrow, the presence of the Moskva worries about its official and non official role. Israel, however, will never give up on one point: the supply of weapons to Hezbollah that could happen precisely from Syria.
(photo: TASS)
