Israeli Media: Joint Syrian-Russian flights message to "Israel"
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Israeli media points to Israeli concerns regarding the joint Syrian-Russian air patrol over the occupied Golan, and analyzes the messages behind this move and its timing.
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Both Russian and Syrian aircraft took part in the air patrol over the occupied Golan
The Israeli occupation is expressing its concerns vis-a-vis Russia and Syria's joint air patrols over the occupied Golan, according to Yedioth Ahronoth daily, noting that this will diminish the Israeli air force's attacks in Syria "until the rage passes."
The daily's military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua said "The top political and security leaders find it difficult to understand what prompted Moscow to report joint air patrols with Assad's army."
Yehoshua said it was possible that the Russians may want to signal the US that there is another active arena in West Asia in order to pressure the Israelis to act against the US, and also noted that officers in the IOF and the Russian army are trying to calm things down.
The pundit relayed that top political and security leaders in the regime were wondering what drove the Russians to change their policy toward "Israel", and said that this same policy was not declared, but allowed the Israeli air force to increase its attacks in Syria over the past months.
Yehoshua said that one interpretation is that the Russian estimated that the weather would allow for a window for Israeli attacks before another winter storm passes, and wanted to foil it through this show, asserting that this message may indicate the Russians felt that "Israel" took it too far with its attacks.
Another interpretation, he said, is related to great power tensions in Ukraine, and found it possible that the Russians want to signal to the US that there is another arena in West Asia.
"Now, the test for 'Israel' is whether it [the air patrol] is just a signal in the game between the powers and that it will end or whether Russia will limit the Air Force's activity in Syria against the Iranians," he said.
In any case, calls are currently ongoing between Russian and Israeli officers in order to calm things down.
"Israel" Hayom: Russian-Syrian patrols a message to "Israel"
A political source told "Israel" Hayom that the location and timing of the flight was a signal to "Israel".
"Flying on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights is aimed at only one other country that is also in the Golan, and not at anyone else," according to the source.
The source estimated that Russia and Syria wanted to show "Israel" that they were not "satisfied with the Israeli activity against Iran" and its allies in Syria, especially in light of the increase of Israeli activity in Syria in recent months.
Russian and Syrian military pilots held their first joint patrol over the Syrian territory on Monday.
Russian aircraft took off from the Khmeimim Air Base in northwestern Syria. The air patrol’s route was as follows: Along the Golan Heights, then along the southern border, along the Euphrates, and over the northern regions of Syria. Such joint patrols are expected to become regular.
A Russian defense ministry statement added that during the patrol, training missiles were launched at ground targets at one of the training fields in the country's central region, and the Syrians were in charge of airspace coverage.
