Israel, Russia To Coordinate Military Action On Syria: Netanyahu

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

By Maria Tsvetkova

NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia (Reuters) - Israel and Russia agreed on Monday to coordinate military actions over Syria in order to avoid accidentally trading fire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Moscow.

Recent Russian reinforcements for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which regional sources say include warplanes and anti-aircraft systems, worry Israel, whose jets have on occasion bombed the neighboring Arab country to foil suspected handovers of advanced arms to Assad's Lebanese guerrilla ally Hezbollah.

Briefing Israeli reporters after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Netanyahu said he had come with the goal of "prevent(ing) misunderstandings between IDF (Israel Defense Force) units and Russian forces" in Syria, where Assad is fighting Islamist-dominated insurgents in a civil war.

Netanyahu added that he and Putin "agreed on a mechanism to prevent such misunderstandings". He did not elaborate. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/israels-netanyahu-says-moscow-talks-aimed-preventing-clashes-105827470.html

[DonCoquixote]

1. this is Bibi's way of saying

That fi America does not obey him, he can find another nation to con.

[branford]

3. Or, the Russians don't want to be bombed or have their planes shot down

by the Israelis, who are exponentially more competent and equipped than the rebel forces, nor does Israel want to directly engage Russian forces if it could be avoided.

And/or, Israeli negotiations with Putin are part of a coordinated effort with the USA to deal with Russian interference in the region, and entirely consistent with strong and long-standing Israeli relationships in the State and Defense Departments that have transcended various Israeli prime ministers and ruling parties.

Now, would you care to offer some actual evidence that Israeli negotiations with Russian concerning Syria were an attempt to punish, insult or threaten the USA or President Obama?

[leftynyc]

8. Don't hold your breath

waiting for proof or evidence. It doesn't exist. It doesn't look like you've been here very long (a belated welcome). There are some unwritten rules - if the US or Israel can be blamed in any way possible, even if you have to twist yourself into a pretzel and ignore half your brain cells, that's what's going to be done on DU. The FACT is the Bibi has a meeting planned with Pres Obama in a month or so and it also looks like they may rather have a brutal dictator at their border rather than repulsive barbarians like isis.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

4. It would be fitting. One despotic nation getting their military hardware from another.

If that doesn't wake up America then what would?

[jakeXT]

5. Russia probably always helped their patch unit

Secret ‘patch-up’ unit keeps Israeli Air Force on top
Techs at IAF Base 108 take old, broken-down planes and turn them into first-class fighters, says division head


The Israeli Air Force has to make every dollar count, especially as the cost of the best warplanes and defense systems skyrockets. The air force’s aptly named Extension of Life Division helps keep costs down by keeping old planes up.

The division is located at Air Force Base 108 in central Israel. Its mission is to ensure that Israel’s planes and avionics systems keep up to date and competitive with the latest technology. That means getting creative with old stuff — refurbishing and upgrading planes of all types and ages, some of them 40 years old or more, and retooling them to match the capabilities of the top aircraft from the US, Russia, France, and other advanced aerospace producers.

That effort, said Colonel E, who commands Base 108, consists of two approaches — upgrading navigation, avionics, communications, radar, and other electronics systems to the latest standards, as well as refurbishing and replacing the materials used in planes. For example, a 1970s vintage F-15i “Baz” (Falcon) plane is turned “into a plane that can carry out modern missions as well as advanced planes that are available today,” said E.

In an age where the culture of disposability — if it doesn’t work, just throw it out and get a new one — has permeated even the deepest recesses of defense establishments the world over, Israel has a good reason for going its own way. “It’s a lot cheaper,” said E. “We save millions, if not tens of millions, by fixing up old planes. When you realize that a single F35, the state of the art combat plane, costs between $120 and $140 million, this approach makes a great deal of sense.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/secret-patch-up-unit-keeps-israel-air-force-on-top/

[6chars]

27. lol

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. Well as long as they are coordinating their military actions to prop up Assad I guess it's ok...

[davidpdx]

6. I think that's an excuse that's been given in order to justify Israel coordinating with Russia

Israel seems to be telling us to fuck off in no uncertain terms over and over again. It is way past time we cut them loose. If they want to dance with Russia, then let them.

[Duppers]

7. Exactly. nt

[moondust]

9. I've had a nagging suspicion

that Israel may have always wanted Assad to remain in power due to fear of what might replace him. The devil you know...

[hack89]

14. Israel wants Assad in power

the devil you know is better than the devil(s) you don't.

[jamzrockz]

18. You are right

That explains why they've been bombing Syrian military target throughout the civil war. They have bombed and destroyed Syrian positions more than a dozen times now and they are reports that they support the Al Nusra front fighting along the Israeli controlled Golan height.

Also, they are yet to bomb the terrorists operating in that region. That doesn't seem to me like the actions of someone who wants Assad to stay.

Lastly, Netenyahu supported the US regime change in Iraq and Libya. This is just in line with the policies they support.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed Tuesday for strong international action against the regimes of Libya and Iran.

Netanyahu stressed that the world must act against Iran as it is currently acting against Libya. He said the world needs to send a message to the people of Libya that they have support in their struggle against ruler Muammar Gadhafi - a message that would be heard in Iran.

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-world-pressure-on-libya-must-also-be-directed-at-iran-1.346514

[hack89]

19. It gets complicated because Hezbollah is fighting for Syria

if you look closely at the IDF strikes in Syria, you will find Hezbollah was the true target.

Israel wants Assad in power and Hezbollah back in Lebanon. They certainly do not want ISIS in power as that would mean war, especially if ISIS captures Assad's strategic weapons.

[jamzrockz]

20. Its only complicated because you are overthinking it

Look, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, US, NATO etc are all allies of Israel and they want Assad to go. Syrian govt in Assad is allied with Iran their arch enemy. It would make sense that Israel would side with their allies in wanting Assad to go. If ISIS takes over Syria, their next target would be Lebanon where Hezbollah lives.

If they ISIS can take out both an Iranian ally and their proxy army, that would be a big win for Israel. The ISIS treat can then be easily be taken care of once Russia and Iran is gone from the picture. This plays right into the hands of Israel and is in line with their history of supporting regime change in the Arab world.

[hack89]

21. The ISIS threat will not be easy to take care of.

we couldn't defeat them in ten years of war in Iraq and it is not clear we can defeat them now. They have smart and capable military leaders - the stupid ones have all been killed off.

An ISIS controlled Syria and Lebanon would mean a protracted bloody war. It would also mean bloody civil war in Gaza as ISIS challenges Hamas.

[jamzrockz]

23. Can you think of any action

by the Israeli govt that suggest that they want Assad to survive this fight? You say that they would prefer Assad because it is the devil they know, but somehow that same logic doesn't seem to convince the Americans, EU, the GCC nation, Turkey etc who are still calling for Assad to go.

I wish Netanyahu would speak up publicly or even go out and try to convince the Arab nations supporting the rebel factions to stop. Get Turkey and Jordan to close their borders to Jihadists and weapons flowing in. God knows the Syrian people have suffered enough in this war.

I just disagree with you about ISIS, I think once they outlasted their usefulness, the bombs will really start raining in on them, sanctions will be put on countries buying their oil, borders will be closed to starve them of fighters and weapons and they will quickly die off.

[hack89]

25. I disagree with your CT perspective on ISIS

I do not think they are a tool of the world powers being used to rewrite the map of the ME.


Time will tell who is right.

[ripcord]

34. The US is no longer calling for Assad to leave as a condition to peace

[jamzrockz]

36. Have any sources for that claim?

I hope it is true, but I seriously doubt the US will back down now.

[Comrade Grumpy]

37. "John Kerry Softens US Demand that Assad Must Go"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11877207/John-Kerry-softens-US-demand-that-Assad-must-go.html

7:46PM BST 19 Sep 2015
John Kerry softened America’s demand yesterday that Syria’s dictator must step down, declaring that the timing of Bashar al-Assad’s departure was open to negotiation.

The US secretary of state retreated from the earlier US position that Assad’s removal must be the first step towards resolving Syria’s civil war.

He spoke as the regime carried out a series of air strikes near the ancient city of Palmyra, which has fallen into the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). The Syrian air force flew as many as 25 sorties, killing perhaps 26 people on the ground, including Isil fighters.

Assad has been emboldened by Russia’s decision to provide direct military support. In recent weeks, Russian tanks and troops have been deployed in Syria, along with a small number of advanced jet fighters.

Russia’s goal appears to be to prevent Assad from suffering more battlefield defeats while also complicating any escalation of America’s air campaign against Isil targets in Syria.

[jamzrockz]

39. THats better than their previous position but

it still has this

John Kerry softened America’s demand yesterday that Syria’s dictator must step down, declaring that the timing of Bashar al-Assad’s departure was open to negotiation.

The policy of regime change is still not being abandoned just the timing of it. Not good enough in my book. The whole policy of forceful regime change has been an utter fail that destroys lives and communities. Its time to end it all.

[bemildred]

22. Hezbollah is withdrawing. nt

[hack89]

26. Which is smart on their part.

Syria was very costly to Hezbollah in terms of casualties and reputation.

[bemildred]

28. Best for them to get out of the way now.

I don't think Putin intends to fool around with the jihadis, they started attacking Raqqa right away.

And I imagine it might be partly to pacify Bibi and to take away his excuse too..

[jamzrockz]

30. Really?

This is their fight too. The majority Sunni terrorists attacking Syria right now would mow down Lebanon and Hezbollah once they are done with Syria. Their best bet is to combine forces with the Syria govt to make sure the day doesn't come when they are faced alone vs ISIS, Al Nusra etc etc on the battlefield.

This time it wouldn't be only their reputation on the line but their survival as a people. Its a do or die time and Hezbollah better get a quick r&r and get back on the battlefield asap.

[hack89]

32. You assume that propping up Syria is popular with the Lebanese public.

the other Lebanese groups despise Assad for his heavy handed meddling in Lebanon including his support for Hezbollah. Perhaps Hezbollah should cooperate with the Lebanese government and use their military force to protect all Lebanese, not just their supporters.

[jamzrockz]

33. The Syria army

and the Iraqi army which is far stronger than the Lebanese army are having a hard time containing the terrorist horde in Syria and Iraq. You mean to tell me that somehow cooperating with the Lebanese army would somehow protect them from ISIS?

They would clear the country up in no time, killing and raping every man woman and child before the world knows what is going on. The best bet would have been for the whole region to join forces against the terrorists but I guess they some people in Lebanon believe that the hyper religious Sunni radicals would just stop at the Syria border and not cross into Lebanon when they are done with Syria.

That doesn't sound like what the ISIS I know and have followed since their inception would do.

[hack89]

35. ok. nt

[6chars]

29. did you even read the op?

coordinating in order to avoid accidental confrontation between Israeli and Russian militaries. This is telling us to f*** off? Both do have military forces there. Would you rather they do have accidental confrontation in order to somehow show respect to the US? This makes no sense whatsoever.

[leftynyc]

38. Of course it doesn't make sense

but if you can't assign nefarious and bullshit motives to Israel, it's just not a day at DU. Vomit.

[Cayenne]

45. Lavrov is taking leadership from Kerry

Lavrov put boots on the ground and Kerry was pantsed. If they really, really are going to stomp daesh then why get in the way unless there is an ulterior motive. <cough> pipeline

[oberliner]

10. "...in order to avoid accidentally trading fire."

Seems like a no-brainer.

Though I'm sure some folks here would prefer to run with various conspiracy theories and such. Seems a lot more mundane.

[Darb]

11. Bibi is a whore.

It is all about a Greater Israel, apparently, whatever the cost or connection.

[6chars]

31. keen analysis

based on extensive knowledge, I'm sure.

[sofa king]

12. The US can join in, too!

We could call it The Axis of Evil! Oh, wait. That name was already used.

[Rose77]

13. russia may turn on israel in the midnight hour...?

[hack89]

15. And get its ass promptly kicked?

apart from nukes, Russia is a second rate military power.

[GOLGO 13]

16. Israel has nukes as well

This is Israeli gamesmanship.

[hack89]

17. I think Israel wants Russia to succeed.

Last edited Tue Sep 22, 2015, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

they are comfortable with Assad in power - he kept the crazies under control and the Syrian/Israeli border was relatively peaceful.

I suspect Israel has two concerns: no accidental exchange of fire and weapon transfers to Hezbollah.

[COLGATE4]

24. Spot on analysis! Thanks. nt

[no_hypocrisy]

40. Uncertain with your analysis.

True on one level but you need to address Israeli apoplectic rage against Syrian for supporting Hezbollah and Fatah and the Palestinians. Israel/Netanyahu seems intent to take out Assad with "regime change".

[hack89]

41. They are pragmatic

They have lived with Hezbollah for decades. ISIS running Syria doesn't eliminate the Hezbollah threat but does ensure that the violence on the Israeli/Syrian border will dramatically escalate. Imagine ISIS with Syria's strategic weapons shooting Scud missiles with chemical warheads at Israeli cities - hard to see Israel preferring that scenario because drawing Israel into a wider ME war is exactly what ISIS wants to do.

The Palestinian issue is interesting - an ISIS victory would most likely mean a civil war in Gaza as ISIS challenges Hamas. More violence in Gaza is not what Israel wants at the moment.

Of all the bad choices Israel has, ISIS winning is at the bottom of the list.

[6chars]

42. wrong

Israel is not suffering apoplectic rage against Syria. If you talk to Israelis, read Israeli press, etc. you would know this is far from the truth. They are pretty mad about IRAN supporting Hezbollah and Hamas. They pretty much deal with Fatah = PLO = PA.

[Jesus Malverde]

43. Israel continues to isolate itself.

Israel under the current right wing religious nut job coalition government does all it can to humiliate the Obama administration and sabotage American military and foreign policy initiatives.

The timing of this announcement is meant to humiliate SOS Kerry who recently raised the expansion of Russian military action in Syria as a concern. By this agreement Israel is legitimatizing the Russian military expansion in Syria.

There is a myth that Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States. Their actions betray that narrative.

The Obama administration has given more to Israel than any President before him in terms of diplomatic, military, intelligence, financial and business assistance. This investment of American time, treasure, and blood is not benefitting the United States.

It does benefit a country run by a coalition of religious extremists.

Report: Israel Imports Three-quarters of Its Oil From Iraq
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.672599

[leveymg]

44. Exchange of Friend or Foe signatures.

We are cursed to live in interesting times.