Is Syria really getting ready for a war?

[TayyarBeino]

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520


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This information is current as of today, Fri Feb 13 2009.

SYRIA
February 12, 2009

This Travel Warning warns U.S. citizens of ongoing safety and security concerns in Syria. American citizens are urged to consider carefully the risks of travel to Syria and to take adequate precautions to ensure their safety. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Syria issued on April 15, 2008.

On multiple occasions throughout January 2009, thousands of Syrians protested in mostly government-orchestrated rallies against Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. While these events were largely peaceful, in one instance a few hundred protestors challenged police lines outside the Egyptian Embassy in downtown Damascus and were dispersed by means of non-lethal force. At least seven smaller-scale and non-violent demonstrations have occurred in central Damascus and other urban centers.

Syria

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الخارجية الأميركية تحذر رعاياها من التوجه إلى سوريا

حذرت وزارة الخارجية الأميركية رعاياها من السفر إلى سوريا، وقالت الخارجية الأميركية في بيانها بأنها تطلب من المواطنين الأميركيين المتوجهين إلى سوريا توخي الحيطة والحذر واتخاذ كافة الإجراءات اللازمة للحفاظ على سلامتهم.

وطالبت الخارجية الأميركية من رعاياها المتوجهين إلى سوريا بتسجيل أسمائهم لدى القسم القنصلي في السفارة الأميركية في دمشق وذلك عبر موقع السفارة على الانترنت.

[rayograph]

Syria's antiaircraft system most advanced in world, thanks to Russia...

YnetNews reported on August 13, 2007:

Israeli military source says that after studying IAF's performance during Second Lebanon War, Damacus has purchased most advanced ground-to-air missiles from Russia. IDF fears Assad's arms race may be sign of possible conflict with Israel

Syria possesses the most crowded antiaircraft system in the world following its continued purchase of Russian weapon systems, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday, quoting a senior Israeli military source.

According to one estimate, the Syrians hold more than 200 antiaircraft batteries of different types.

For first time since fall of Iron Curtain, Russia plans to build permanent bases on Syrian soil as part of large arms deal between two countries. Defense establishment officials fear Russian ships may try to spy on Israel's weapon systems

In a bid to respond to the Israel Air Force's supremacy, Damascus has been exerting great efforts in the past few years to improve its ability in terms of ground-to-ground and ground-to-air missiles.

According to the military source, as part of these efforts the Syrians have purchased the most advanced ground-to-air missiles from the Russians, considered the cutting edge in aircraft interception technology.

Some of these missiles were snatched from the production lines even before being introduced into Russian operation service.

Damascus' race to purchase antiaircraft weapons is one of the prominent characteristics in the Syrians' preparations for a possible conflict with Israel.

According to the military source, Syria studied the IAF's performance during the Second Lebanon War and has since invested great sums of money in antiaircraft systems, particularly in systems for the defense of strategic sites.

The Institute for National Security Studies recently issued a memo on the strengthening of the Syrian army. In the chapter dealing with air defense, researcher Yiftah Shapir writes that the antiaircraft deals between Syria and Russia include the purchase of SA-24 missile systems, an armored vehicle which carries four Igla-S missiles – among of the most advanced shoulder missiles on the market.

In addition, the Syrians purchased between 36 to 50 Pantsir S-1 (SA-22) systems. This is a system combining missiles and shells and its development has only been completed recently. It is installed on a high-mobility vehicle and has a launcher of 12 missiles. Each missile weighs 65 kilograms (143 pounds) and has a 16-kilogram (35.2-pound) warhead.

The Syrians have also improved their old antiaircraft systems, such as the SA-3 and SA-6.

According to the memo, the Syrians are interested in purchasing long-range S-300 air defense systems and S-11 and SA-17 medium-range mobile air defense systems.

The S-300, one of the most advanced missiles used by the Syrian army can accurately intercept aircrafts from a distance of several tens of kilometers, thanks to an improved radar system combined with special sensors on the missile itself.

According to the military source, the Syrian army possesses today improved long-range and short-range air defense systems for the interception of aircrafts.