Russia boosts its naval presence in Syria, sends regime new missiles
Many see Russia's anti-ship missile sales and increased naval deployment to Syria as intended to deter Western powers from military intervention in the Syrian civil war.
Many see Russia's anti-ship missile sales and increased naval deployment to Syria as intended to deter Western powers from military intervention in the Syrian civil war.
鈥� A daily summary of global reports on security issues.
Russia has deployed upwards of a dozen ships to its naval base in Syria over the past three months, and recently sent advanced anti-ship missiles to the embattled Syrian government, highlighting the depth of Moscow鈥檚 commitment to the Assad regime and the challenges in finding an internationally palatable solution to the crisis.
Some believe Russia鈥檚 increased presence is meant to deter Western powers from getting involved militarily with the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 70,000 people and displaced millions over the past three years. US officials, however, told The Wall Street Journal they do not fear a direct conflict with Russia.
Russia supports Syria鈥檚 President Bashar al-Assad, whereas the US recently stated that a political solution to the crisis would have to exclude the president from the transitional government.
The US and Russia last week announced a peace conference on Syria, but a date has not been set. The idea of the conference was met with high hopes from the international community, which has been stymied over how to help draw the Syrian civil war to a close. Today, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the joint conference must be held as soon as possible so that the international community does 鈥渘ot lose momentum.鈥�
But Russia鈥檚 recent actions around Syria could potentially complicate that goal. Moscow insisted yesterday on the attendance of Iran聽at any peace conference, another controversial player in the Syrian conflict and on the international stage, reports Reuters.
Iran has long been believed to be moving weapons to Hezbollah via Syria. Earlier this month, Israel conducted an airstrike in Syria, stating that 鈥渋f there is activity, it is only against Hezbollah, not against the Syrian regime.鈥�
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview posted on a government website yesterday, "Among some of our Western colleagues, there is a desire to narrow the circle of external participants and begin the process from a very small group of countries in a framework which, in essence, would predetermine the negotiating teams, agenda, and maybe even the outcome of talks."
Russia's recent delivery of sophisticated anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria also has raised concerns, reports The New York Times. The weapons enable 鈥渢he regime to deter foreign forces looking to supply the opposition from the sea, or from undertaking a more active role if a no-fly zone or shipping embargo were to be declared at some point,鈥� Nick Brown, editor in chief of IHS Jane鈥檚 International Defense Review, told the Times. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real ship killer.鈥�
The Wall Street Journal noted that the missiles appear to contradict earlier Russian reassurances about the kinds of weapons it would supply to Assad's forces.聽
French President Fran莽ois Hollande said yesterday that Russia鈥檚 ongoing arms supply to the Assad regime was problematic in finding a diplomatic resolution to the civil war, and that rebels needed to be able to keep up military pressure on the Syrian Army.
"While the Russians are accepting the idea of this conference they continue to give weapons to Bashar al-Assad's regime, so we need to have an attitude that balances that out," Mr. Hollande said.
鈥淭his weapons transfer is obviously disappointing and will set back efforts to promote the political transition that is in the best interests of the Syrian people and the region,鈥� Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement last night. 鈥淭here is now greater urgency for the U.S. to step up assistance to the moderate opposition forces who can lead Syria after Assad.鈥�
Which players will have a role in Syria鈥檚 political transition is believed, in part, to be at the crux of the international standstill on Syria. A UN resolution yesterday drew ire from the likes of Russia because it explicitly backed the Syrian National Commission, an opposition group, for future talks on the political transition, reports Agence France-Presse.
鈥淎n angry Russia said this would encourage opposition 鈥榓rmed actions鈥� against the Assad government,鈥� AFP reports.