US Condemns Russia’s S-300 Missile Deal to Syria

Reports that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was able to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to put a hold on the deal to supply sophisticated S-300 missile systems to Syria are not accurate. White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that although the Russians are insisting delivery of the S-300s is a legal fulfillment of contracts signed in 2010 before the civil war began, “on the matter of Russian arm sales, we've made clear in the past and made clear again our firm belief that providing arms to the Assad regime does not bring us closer to the political transition that Syria deserves.” To the Israelis, the S-300 system is seen as a major impediment to maintaining its military superiority over its hostile neighbor. The Russian foreign minister echoed that thought, saying that the S-300s in Syria will serve as a deterrent to military intervention in Syria. On Tuesday, Israel’s defense minister hinted that the Jewish state will act to prevent delivery of the missiles to Syria. The European Union embargo on arming the rebels has been lifted clearing the way for individual nations to decide whether to provide weapons to President Assad’s opponents. President Obama has endorsed the move and has ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans for a no-fly zone over Syrian airspace according to a report in the Daily Beast. The report also says the US is finally considering supplying arms to Assad opponents if they can be properly vetted.