Photo: military-today.com
Lebanon has requested Russia to supply the Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, T-72 main battle tanks and cannons. Beirut hopes to receive the military hardware within a year, the Sputnik News information website reported, citing Lebanese Ambassador to Russia Chawki Bou Nassar.
“Lebanon needs weapons to fight these people [terrorists], and especially the Russian rockets, there is one well known, Kornet, because Lebanon got some of the weapons and used them effectively, and is still working with the Russian side to provide these kinds of weapons… Kornet, and the cannons, and the tanks, T-72 tanks, although old — but Russia promised to renovate them and to update the systems in these tanks — and of course the shells for the cannons, ammunition,” the Ambassador said.
Nassar noted that the country would use these weapons against terrorist groups, such as the Daesh and the Nusra Front, jihadist militant organizations, on the Syrian border.
Earlier, Beirut was going to get French weapons for $3 billion worth. But, Saudi Arabia, which promised to provide a $3 billion aid package to the Lebanese Army for purchase of French weapons, has changed its decision and received by itself 200 armored vehicles that it ordered from France for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
It is also important to observe that Israel is preparing for war against Hezbollah/Lebanon.
As such, the enhancement of Lebanon’s defensive capabilities are a priority (particularly recognising threats by Israeli military officials that the coming war will be far more devastating to Lebanon than previous wars (in which the ‘Dahiya Doctrine’ of employing disproportionate violence/large scale destruction including of civilian areas/infrastructure/essential services was employed)
– “the next conflict may already be in the making” [Herzl Halevi] (Israeli MI Chief: Another War Would Turn Lebanon Into ‘A Country of Refugees’, Haaretz, Jun 15, 2016)
– “Israeli forces were following the Dahiya Doctrine established after Israel’s 2006 war with Lebanon when a Hezbollah stronghold in the West Beirut suburb of Dahiya was almost completely razed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). “What happened in the Dahiya quarter of Beirut in 2006 will happen in every village from which Israel is fired on,” said Gadi Eisenkot, head of the IDF’s northern division. “This is not a recommendation. This is a plan. And it has been approved,” he added. Israeli leader retired Col. Gabriel Siboni, stated the following, weeks before the Israeli military’s attack on Gaza: “With an outbreak of hostilities, the IDF will use force that is disproportionate to the enemy’s actions and the threat it poses. Such a response aims at inflicting damage and meting out punishment to an extent that will demand long and expensive reconstruction processes.” (Chomsky the Latest Jewish Thinker Targeted by Israel, by Mel Frykberg, May 19, 2010)
– “The destruction of food supply installations, water sanitation systems, concrete factories and residential houses had been the result of a deliberate and systematic policy by the Israeli armed forces and not because those objects had presented a military threat….” (Endorsing Gaza war report, UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel, 16 October 2009)
Various reports also indicate an escalation of Israeli operations against Syria (including ongoing proxy warfare operations through the support of militant/terrorist groups and increasing strikes against Syria, Iranian and Hezbollah forces/command posts. The Israeli military is also involved in military preparations in the Golan region within the DMZ).
p2. It is significant that Iranian military officials are asking for the RF to enforce Syrian sovereignty (particularly preventing air space violations in Syria/ongoing Israeli strikes).
As Israel continues to launch strikes against Syrian, Iranian and Hezbollah forces (often to assist and in coordination with militant/terrorist operations) it is logical that it is only a matter of time until it triggers a broader conflict between these parties (the cycle of action/reaction resulting in escalation). Therefore, in addition to the enhancement of Lebanon’s defensive capabilities, it is worth assessing whether it is prudent for the RF to clarify that violations of Syrian sovereignty will not be permitted.
After all, Israel is a partner of the U.S./NATO bloc, is involved in allied bloc operations against the RF and despite any (disingenuous) claims to the contrary, its actions are that of an adversary of the RF.
In addition to (indirect but active) involvement in economic warfare operations [3][4] against Russia and allied proxy warfare operations [1][2] (in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine, Syria, etc.,), Israel (in collaboration with U.S./NATO operations) is also involved in regime change operations within the RF (efforts to install aligned political assets to exploit Russia and its resources/assets as a client state). It is actively involved in allied operations to sabotage Russian energy supplies (and is involved in allied pipeline projects that seek to replace Russian pipeline distribution routes). The U.S./NATO/Israel bloc is also engaged in destabilisation operations (efforts to engineer civil protests/unrest involving the application of colour revolution technology) and partition operations (through the support of separatist/militant groups, some of which are conducting terrorist operations). Israel is also developing technology (in collaboration with its allies) to overcome Russian defensive missile systems, a priority of this bloc.
In the event of direct military conflict between military blocs, Israel will be integrated into the military operations of the U.S./NATO bloc (as it currently is). Russian analysts no doubt recognise this. Adversarial operations of Israel invite symmetrical and/or asymmetrical responses/counter-actions as inaction (and inadequate deterrence) only emboldens adversaries.
References. 1. “For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping [the] Georgian army to prepare for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice.” (War in Georgia: The Israeli connection, Ynet News [Israel], 10/08/2008)
2. “Israel’s air strikes…. wiped out newly-arrived Russian hardware including missiles that were dispatched post haste to help Syria and Hezbollah frustrate a US plan for a no-fly zone over northern Syria…. ” (Israel air strikes wiped out Russian hardware for thwarting US no-fly zone plan over Syria, Debka, 08/12/2014)
3. “what David Petraeus has done for counter-insurgency warfare, Stuart Levey [succeeded by David Cohen and later Adam Szubin] has done for economic warfare” [Senator Joe Lieberman]. (US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Daniel Glaser and Philip Goldberg were other key individuals involved in economic warfare operations against Russia and other states)
4. “An Economic War Between Superpowers is Reaching a Global Scale….. In the U.S., an Institute of Economic Warfare (IEW) exists….. It is created by the neocons, and one of leading ideologist’s of which is a former Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Perle [closely affiliated with Benjamin Netanyahu]….. a large-scale economic war has unfolded against Russia.” (The End of the Market, South Front, 30/11/2015)