Syria to expand military ties with Russia

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday he would use this week’s visit to Russia to expand military ties with Moscow whose arms sales to the West Asian state have angered the West.

Israel and the United States have long urged Russia not to sell weapons to Syria — a key Moscow ally during the Cold War.

Assad told Kommersant newspaper that Russia’s conflict with Georgia, in which Moscow says Georgia used Israeli-supplied equipment, underlined the need for Russia and Syria to tighten their defence cooperation.

“Of course military and technical cooperation is the main issue. Weapons purchases are very important,” he said. “Moreover, the West and Israel continue to put pressure on Russia.” A diplomatic source in Moscow told Interfax news agency that Russia and Syria were preparing a number of deals involving anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems. Syria is also interested in Russia’s Pantsyr-S1 Air Defence Missile systems, BUK-M1 surface-to-air medium-range missile system, military aircraft and other hardware, the source said.

Russia’s military said this week Israel supplied military vehicles and explosives to Georgia and helped train its army. Israel says it does not supply arms to other countries as a Government, but private firms conduct equipment sales and training with the defence ministry’s approval. Assad said Israel’s role would only encourage countries like Syria — a US foe and ally of Iran — to step up cooperation with Russia.

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