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Assad Says Syria Has Received Advanced Missiles From Russia Assad Says Syria Has Received Advanced Missiles From Russia
(about 3 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — President Bashar al-Assad of Syria said in a television interview to be broadcast on Thursday that Russia has delivered S-300 air defense missiles to his country, weapons that Israel has said present a threat to its security and against which it is willing to use force. BEIRUT, Lebanon — President Bashar al-Assad of Syria said in a television interview to be broadcast on Thursday that Russia had delivered an S-300 air defense missile system to his country, weapons that Israel has said present a threat to its security and against which it is willing to use force.
“Syria has received the first shipment of Russian antiaircraft S-300 rockets,” Mr. Assad said in the interview, to be broadcast on Al Manar, the television channel of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which in recent weeks has dramatically increased its military intervention in Syria on the side of Mr. Assad’s government. “The rest of the shipment will arrive later today.” “Syria has received the first shipment of Russian antiaircraft S-300 rockets,” Mr. Assad said in the interview, to be broadcast on Al Manar, the television channel of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group, which in recent weeks has dramatically increased its military intervention in Syria on the side of Mr. Assad’s government. “The rest of the shipment will arrive later today.”
Russian officials had said earlier this week that the country would deliver the weapons to Syria, a move that Mr. Assad’s opponents said was a sign that neither Russia nor the Syrian government was serious about proposed negotiations to end the Syrian civil war that Russia and the United States are trying to organize for as early as next month.Russian officials had said earlier this week that the country would deliver the weapons to Syria, a move that Mr. Assad’s opponents said was a sign that neither Russia nor the Syrian government was serious about proposed negotiations to end the Syrian civil war that Russia and the United States are trying to organize for as early as next month.
The interview with Mr. Assad was taped on Tuesday, according to the Beirut news director of Iran’s English-language Press TV. That same day, Israel’s defense minister declared categorically that the missile systems had not yet been delivered.The interview with Mr. Assad was taped on Tuesday, according to the Beirut news director of Iran’s English-language Press TV. That same day, Israel’s defense minister declared categorically that the missile systems had not yet been delivered.
A senior Israeli official said on Thursday that the S-300 missile systems “do not just come in a box” and that different elements would probably be delivered in stages. It was possible, he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic constraints, that some parts had arrived in Syria, but he added that there was no indication at this stage that the systems were anywhere near operational. A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic constraints, said on Thursday that the S-300 missile systems “do not just come in a box” and that different elements would probably be delivered in stages. It is possible, he said, that some parts have arrived in Syria, but there is no indication at this stage that the systems are anywhere near operational.
Secretary of State John Kerry has raised the issue of the arms sales with the Russians, even as he and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, are trying to arrange a meeting between the Assad government and the rebels. Asked about the missiles and Israeli warnings that the deliveries of them would pose a threat to Israel, the State Department’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said on Wednesday: “We support Israel’s ability to defend themselves, certainly, but we remain hopeful and remain committed to working towards a political transition. And that’s what our focus is here on Syria, and we remain concerned about the overflow impacts of the events that are happening on the ground.” Secretary of State John Kerry has raised the issue of the arms sales with the Russians, even as he and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, are trying to arrange a meeting between the Assad government and the rebels. Asked about the missiles and Israeli warnings that the deliveries of them would pose a threat to Israel, the State Department’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said on Wednesday: “We support Israel’s ability to defend themselves, certainly, but we remain hopeful and remain committed to working towards a political transition. And that’s what our focus is here on Syria.”
The Syrian government and the opposition have hardened their positions in recent days, casting doubt on the future of the proposed talks as each side declared a starting point that is thoroughly unacceptable to the other. In Washington, Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said on Thursday that although she could not comment on specific arms shipments, “our concerns about Russia’s continued support for the Syrian regime through the provision of arms and access to Russian banks are well known.”
On Wednesday, the Syrian opposition said that Mr. Assad’s departure was a prerequisite of talks — a condition his government and Russia reject — while Syria’s foreign minister said that Mr. Assad would stay on at least until 2014 and might seek re-election and that any peace agreement would have to be approved by a referendum. “Providing additional weapons to Assad — including air defense systems — will only prolong the violence in Syria and incite regional destabilization,” she added.
Mr. Assad’s statements — and the choice of the Hezbollah channel to deliver them — added to the confrontational atmosphere. His statements were first reported in the Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar and confirmed by Ali Rizk, who performed the simultaneous translation of the interview to be broadcast on Iran’s Press TV. The Syrian government and the opposition have hardened their positions in recent days, casting doubt on the future of the proposed talks as each side declares a starting point that is thoroughly unacceptable to the other.
On Wednesday, the Syrian opposition said Mr. Assad’s departure was a prerequisite of talks — a condition his government and Russia reject — while Syria’s foreign minister said that Mr. Assad would stay on at least until 2014 and might seek re-election and that any peace agreement would have to be approved by a referendum.
Mr. Assad’s statements — and the choice of the Hezbollah channel to deliver them — added to the confrontational atmosphere. His statements were first reported in the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar and confirmed by Ali Rizk, who conducted a simultaneous translation of the interview that will be broadcast on Iran’s Press TV.
Syrian rebel commanders have also issued aggressive statements in recent days, threatening to attack Hezbollah and even the Lebanese Army inside Lebanon if Hezbollah’s intervention is not halted.Syrian rebel commanders have also issued aggressive statements in recent days, threatening to attack Hezbollah and even the Lebanese Army inside Lebanon if Hezbollah’s intervention is not halted.
Late Wednesday, Lebanon’s president, Michel Suleiman, a political ally of Hezbollah, issued an unusual statement calling on Hezbollah to pull out of Syria for the sake of Lebanese security and the integrity of the group’s primary mission, fighting Israel.Late Wednesday, Lebanon’s president, Michel Suleiman, a political ally of Hezbollah, issued an unusual statement calling on Hezbollah to pull out of Syria for the sake of Lebanese security and the integrity of the group’s primary mission, fighting Israel.
Lebanese politicians of every stripe have been loath to directly confront Hezbollah, which fields the most seasoned and influential military force in the country, trumping even the army. But as rocket attacks on Hezbollah areas have increased along with sectarian anger, a growing chorus has worried that Hezbollah and Lebanese Sunni militants supporting the Syrian rebels are destabilizing the country. Lebanese politicians of every stripe have been loath to directly confront Hezbollah, which fields the most seasoned and influential military force in the country, trumping even the army. But as rocket attacks on Hezbollah areas have increased along with sectarian anger, a growing chorus has expressed fears that Hezbollah, fighting on the Syrian government side, and Lebanese Sunni militants supporting the rebels are destabilizing the country.
Mr. Suleiman said he wished that Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, would not “involve the resistance” — as Hezbollah and its confrontation with Israel are known here — in Syria’s war.Mr. Suleiman said he wished that Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, would not “involve the resistance” — as Hezbollah and its confrontation with Israel are known here — in Syria’s war.
“It is the resistance of Lebanon and not of Syria,” he said.
Mr. Suleiman said he still had good relations with Hezbollah, but that his role as president was “to correct paths.”
He even compared Hezbollah’s intervention — which its leaders and supporters have described as a pre-emptive war to prevent Sunni extremists involved in the Syrian uprising from infiltrating or attacking Lebanon — to the pre-emptive war doctrine President George W. Bush formulated to justify the United States invasion of Iraq.He even compared Hezbollah’s intervention — which its leaders and supporters have described as a pre-emptive war to prevent Sunni extremists involved in the Syrian uprising from infiltrating or attacking Lebanon — to the pre-emptive war doctrine President George W. Bush formulated to justify the United States invasion of Iraq.
“I am against anything pre-emptive, like the wars of ex-U.S. President George Bush,” Mr. Suleiman said, a stinging rebuke in a region where American foreign policy in general and Mr. Bush in particular are deeply unpopular.“I am against anything pre-emptive, like the wars of ex-U.S. President George Bush,” Mr. Suleiman said, a stinging rebuke in a region where American foreign policy in general and Mr. Bush in particular are deeply unpopular.
Mr. Suleiman also said he opposed Hezbollah’s newly avowed plans to help the Syrian government open a front in the Golan Heights, the disputed border area between Syria and Israel. “Who guarantees that Israel does not attack Lebanon?” he said. Mr. Suleiman also said he opposed Hezbollah’s plans to help the Syrian government open a front in the Golan Heights, the disputed border area between Syria and Israel. “Who guarantees that Israel does not attack Lebanon?” he said.
The missile shipment also threatens to escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Neither side wants a war now, analysts say, but as the situation grows more volatile they could end up in one through miscalculations, as occurred in 2006.The missile shipment also threatens to escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Neither side wants a war now, analysts say, but as the situation grows more volatile they could end up in one through miscalculations, as occurred in 2006.
Israel has lobbied Russia not to deliver the S-300 systems to Syria. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon warned on Tuesday that Israel would view such a move as a threat to it and that it could prompt an Israeli reaction. Israel has lobbied Russia not to deliver the S-300 missiles to Syria. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon warned on Tuesday that Israel would view such a move as a threat and that it could prompt an Israeli reaction.
“The deliveries have not taken place, I can attest to this, and I hope they do not,” Mr. Yaalon said. “If, by some fortune, they arrive in Syria, we will know what to do,” he added. “The deliveries have not taken place, I can attest to this, and I hope they do not,” Mr. Yaalon said. “If, by some fortune, they arrive in Syria, we will know what to do.”
Three major Israeli newspapers reported on Thursday that Israel’s national security adviser recently told a group of European ambassadors that Israel’s red line regarding the S-300s was when they became operational. The Israeli official, who requested anonymity, said that the S-300 was a “very advanced and complicated system” and that different functions could become operational at different times. Three major Israeli newspapers reported on Thursday that Israel’s national security adviser recently told a group of European ambassadors that Israel’s red line regarding the S-300s was the point at which they become operational. The Israeli official, who requested anonymity, said that the S-300 was a “very advanced and complicated system” and that different functions could become operational at different times.
Israel has long opposed Russian plans to supply Syria with S-300 antiaircraft systems. Since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, Israel has also declared that it will not tolerate the transfer of game-changing weapons from the Syrian government to Hezbollah or the possibility that they could fall into the hands of extremist rebels. Israel is believed to have bombed targets in Syria three times this year, including a convoy of Russian-supplied SA-17 surface-to-air missiles. Israel has long opposed Russian plans to supply Syria with the S-300 antiaircraft system. Since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, Israel has also declared that it will not tolerate the transfer of game-changing weapons from the Syrian government to Hezbollah or the possibility that they could fall into the hands of extremist rebels. Israel is believed to have bombed targets in Syria three times this year, including a convoy of Russian-supplied SA-17 surface-to-air missiles.
Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s minister of strategic and intelligence affairs, told an audience of reporters and diplomats in Jerusalem on Tuesday that Israel did not want to get involved in the civil war in Syria and had decided not to ask or encourage the United States or Europe to take any action there, because of the highly complex situation.Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s minister of strategic and intelligence affairs, told an audience of reporters and diplomats in Jerusalem on Tuesday that Israel did not want to get involved in the civil war in Syria and had decided not to ask or encourage the United States or Europe to take any action there, because of the highly complex situation.
He said that the Russian S-300 systems were not just defensive weapons but could also be used offensively. With a range of around 125 to 185 miles, he said, they could threaten civilian and military aircraft deep inside Israeli territory. He said the Russian S-300 system could be used offensively as well as defensively. With a range of around 125 to 185 miles, he said, its missiles could threaten civilian and military aircraft deep inside Israeli territory.
There was no immediate official comment from Russia, but state-run news outlets reported the details of the transcript of Mr. Assad’s speech. There was no immediate official comment from Russia on the Assad interview, but state-run news outlets reported the details of the transcript of his interview.
A spokesman for Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who asked not to be identified in line with government policy, said, “This is an unhelpful decision by the Russians, supplying to a regime that has shown itself to be incapable of using its weapons systems proportionately or discriminatingly.”A spokesman for Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who asked not to be identified in line with government policy, said, “This is an unhelpful decision by the Russians, supplying to a regime that has shown itself to be incapable of using its weapons systems proportionately or discriminatingly.”

Isabel Kershner contributed reporting from Jerusalem, Steven Lee Myers from Washington,  and Stephen Castle from London.

Isabel Kershner contributed reporting from Jerusalem, Steven Lee Myers and Michael R. Gordon from Washington,  and Stephen Castle from London.