Assad said to confirm Russian missile cargo
Syrian opposition will not participate in Geneva peace talks
Delivery of S-300s will bolster Syria’s air defense, including against possible attacks from Israel
Air defense system could also make it harder for the international community to enforce a no-fly zone to assist the Syrian rebels fighting Assad — something it did in the 2011 civil war in Libya
BEIRUT — Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday was quoted as saying his regime has received from Russia a first shipment of sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles — game-changing weapons that are bound to further raise regional tension, particularly with Israel whose defense chief has called them a threat.
In a new setback to international efforts to end Syria’s civil war, the main Western-backed Syrian opposition group announced that it would not participate in UN-sponsored peace talks that were to have been launched in Geneva.
The decision could torpedo the only peace plan the international community has been able to rally behind, although prospects for its success appeared doubtful from the start.
Long range missiles
Assad made the comments about the arrival of the long-range S-300 air defense missiles in an interview with Lebanon’s Hezbollah-owned TV station Al-Manar, to be aired later Thursday.
The station sent the remarks to journalists in a text message ahead of the broadcast and confirmed them in a phone call.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said they have no evidence the missiles were delivered.
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again this week that the US is concerned about Moscow’s continued financial and military support for the Assad regime
Two Jordan-based Western diplomats said some missiles arrived in Syria this week.
Diplomats
The diplomats, who insisted on anonymity because identifying them could impede their intelligence gathering, said it would take between five to 10 days to make the systems operational.
The US and Israel had both urged Russia to cancel the missile deal, but Moscow said it would honor its planned weapons sales to Syria.
Assad was quoted as telling Al-Manar that “Russia is committed to implementing these contracts.”
The S-300s would bolster Syria’s air defense, including against possible attacks from Israel, which earlier this month launched two airstrikes on suspected weapons shipments near the Syrian capital Damascus.
The air defense system could also make it harder for the international community to enforce a no-fly zone to assist the Syrian rebels fighting Assad — something it did in the 2011 civil war in Libya.
No-fly zone option
White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Wednesday that every option in Syria is on the table, including a no-fly zone.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the lat- est comments about a no-fly zone raise doubt about the sincerity of US support for launching Syria peace talks.
In a statement, the ministry cautioned the US against a “bellicose agenda in Syria.”
The developments raise fears of an arms race — in Syria and in the wider Middle East.
Earlier this week, the European Union lifted an arms embargo, paving way for member states to send weapons to rebels.
No comment
There was no official comment from Israel. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said earlier this week that Russia’s plan to supply Syria with the weapons was a threat and signaled that Israel was prepared to use force to stop the delivery.
Israel’s airstrikes this month are believed to have destroyed weapons shipments bound for Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group that supports Assad, along with Iran and Russia. It is not clear whether Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace in these attacks. (AP)