Vladimir Putin has offered to send Russian troops to act as peacekeepers in the Golan Heights after Austria said it would withdraw its forces following violent clashes in the area earlier this week.
The only border crossing between Israel and Syria was the scene of heavy fighting yesterday between regular Syrian soldiers and rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The violence prompted Austria to announce that it would withdraw its 300 or so soldiers from the 1,100-strong UN peacekeeping unit, the Disengagement Observer Force.
"We could replace the leaving Austrian contingent in this region on the border between Israeli troops and the Syrian army," Mr Putin told the RIA Novosti news agency.
Israel - which is concerned that the Syrian conflict could seep across its border, and which has significantly increased the number of its own military in the area - was angered by the Austrian decision and demanded that the UN replace the departing troops.
The Russian offer may be viewed as a double-edged sword in Israel, however. Moscow has remained a steadfast supporter of the Assad government throughout the two-year civil war, despite many other countries insisting that the Syrian president's cannot stay in office. There has also been anger in the Jewish state about Russian insistence that it will supply Damascus with the sophisticated S300 missiles, which Israel fears could fall into the hands of groups such as Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist militant organization, which is fighting on behalf of the Syrian government.
Despite reports that the missiles have already arrived in Syria, it is believed that they are still to be delivered. Nonetheless, Israeli defense officials have insisted in recent weeks that they have the right to act militarily to prevent the S300s from finding their way to Hezbollah and other militant groups.
DEBKAfile: The Russian president saw his opportunity to pluck the fruits of Moscow’s success in backing the Syrian-Hizballah forces’ advances in major battles against rebels, notably at al Qusayr, and position Russian troops face to face with the Israeli army. They would constitute a barrier against any military intervention being mounted against the Assad regime from Israel.
UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Hak said: "The UN would welcome Russia’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts in the region."
The only border crossing between Israel and Syria was the scene of heavy fighting yesterday between regular Syrian soldiers and rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The violence prompted Austria to announce that it would withdraw its 300 or so soldiers from the 1,100-strong UN peacekeeping unit, the Disengagement Observer Force.
"We could replace the leaving Austrian contingent in this region on the border between Israeli troops and the Syrian army," Mr Putin told the RIA Novosti news agency.
Israel - which is concerned that the Syrian conflict could seep across its border, and which has significantly increased the number of its own military in the area - was angered by the Austrian decision and demanded that the UN replace the departing troops.
The Russian offer may be viewed as a double-edged sword in Israel, however. Moscow has remained a steadfast supporter of the Assad government throughout the two-year civil war, despite many other countries insisting that the Syrian president's cannot stay in office. There has also been anger in the Jewish state about Russian insistence that it will supply Damascus with the sophisticated S300 missiles, which Israel fears could fall into the hands of groups such as Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist militant organization, which is fighting on behalf of the Syrian government.
Despite reports that the missiles have already arrived in Syria, it is believed that they are still to be delivered. Nonetheless, Israeli defense officials have insisted in recent weeks that they have the right to act militarily to prevent the S300s from finding their way to Hezbollah and other militant groups.
DEBKAfile: The Russian president saw his opportunity to pluck the fruits of Moscow’s success in backing the Syrian-Hizballah forces’ advances in major battles against rebels, notably at al Qusayr, and position Russian troops face to face with the Israeli army. They would constitute a barrier against any military intervention being mounted against the Assad regime from Israel.
UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Hak said: "The UN would welcome Russia’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts in the region."
Our military and intelligence sources doubt whether the Israeli government will be enthusiastic about Russian troops policing the Golan sector separating Israeli and Syrian forces. Jerusalem may be expected to seek advice from Washington in order to get the Russian contribution disqualified on the grounds that Moscow can hardly claim to be a neutral party when it is so heavily committed militarily to one side of the Syrian conflict.
The Russian president appears to be aiming at having Russian troops posted on Syrian soil under the US flag when – and if - the conference ever gets off the ground.
What Putin said was this: “In view of the complicated situation which is currently unfolding on the Golan Heights, we could replace the Austrian peacekeeping contingent, which is withdrawing from this region, on the disengagement line between Israeli troops and the Syrian army.”
The Russian president made no mention of the presence of Syrian rebels on the Golan.
1. The presence of Russian troops on the Syrian side of the Golan would inhibit Israeli cross-border military action should it become necessary for its security.
2. It would upset the relations the IDF has developed with certain Syrian rebel units, manifested by their war wounded receiving treatment at the military field hospital set up especially at the Tel Hazaka post on the Golan and transferred in severe case to hospitals in Haifa and Safed.
Last week, US military released data with pictures showing the movements of Israeli special forces in and out of Syria.
3. The possibility of Russian officers in blue helmets interfering with Israeli military movements on the Israeli side of the Golan as well cannot be ruled out.
4. Some of the Russian contingent may be assigned to gather intelligence on Israeli military movements in the north of the country. There is no way to stop them handing those secrets over to the Syrian and Hizballah.
The Bible Scoop.
ROSH in Hebrew means head, not Russia, but if Russia wants to be the head, and eventually it will, it will dictate the terms to all other nations involved. Besides Russia are also the Chinese and North Koreans, all communists. Just because some of them have changed the outward garb does not mean that they have lost their ambitions. A locust-like swarms of troops will come against Israel and that's when the God of Israel will enter into the battle and annihilate them all in one single shot. It's all a matter of time.
See you there...
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