One of the main issues that will be discussed during an emergency meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Moscow next week is a set of operational procedures that will avoid any potential clash between Russian personnel and the Israeli air force over Syria.
Israel is closely following the Russian military build-up in Syria, with a special focus on the work being done at its Latakia air base.
The extensive preparations – as seen by many sensors – are intended to prepare the facility to accept more Russian air force aircraft, including fighters and combat helicopters.
Tal Inbar, a senior researcher at the Fisher Institute for Air & Space in Israel, says the work is clearly intended to enable the air base to handle "large numbers" of military aircraft. According to satellite imagery, the activity includes reinforcing runways, building helicopter landing pads, the addition of mobile housing units, and the construction of several new buildings, including an air traffic control tower.
Sources say that if the Russian build-up continues, it is almost certain that among the other weapon systems to be transferred to Syria, Moscow will deploy advanced surface-to-air missiles to protect its assets.
Moscow sees Syria as its stronghold for the Mediterranean, and wants to be in the country in strength if Syrian president Bashar Al Assad falls after the long civil war.
The activities of Islamic State militants in Syria are something that Israel has been following closely, but if Russian forces have control over parts of Syrian airspace, its air force will have to consider the fact before launching any activities in the territory.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
