RUSSIA COMPLETES SALE OF MISSLES TO SYRIA

Putin: Russian-Syrian missile deal completed (Hat tip: Uncle Sticky)
Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on Wednesday that Moscow has completed a deal to sell advanced SA-18 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. Speaking with Channel 1's Ayala Hasson ahead of his visit to Israel next week, Putin said that Israeli war planes would no longer be able to fly over Syrian President Bashar Assad's presidential palace in Damascus.

SEE ALSO: Putin: Syrian Missile Deal to Block Israel Air Force - Aluf Benn and Amos Harel (Ha'aretz)

The SA-18 missiles Russia is selling Syria "will of course make it difficult to fly over the residence of the Syrian president," Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israel TV Channel One on Wednesday ahead of his visit to Israel next week. "It will make flying low difficult," he said, referring to Syrian embarrassment over Israeli air force planes "buzzing" presidential palaces in Syria to issue warnings to Syrian President Bashar Assad. Putin insisted that the sale of the missiles to Syria would not upset the balance of power in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Sharon said in response that he does not accept Putin's assessment that the weapons do not threaten Israel, Israel Radio reported. A government source in Jerusalem said Wednesday that "Russia, which is fighting terror with one hand, is helping a state that supports terror with the other hand."

Israeli defense sources say that even if the missiles sold to Syria are vehicle-mounted, the launchers could easily be dismantled and transformed into shoulder-launched rockets.