PM underlined to Russia that Israel will continue to protect interests, says Ya’alon
Russia is building advanced, long-range air defenses in its new air base on the Syrian coast, which could disrupt the military activities of the US and its allies in the sector, NATO’s top commander, Gen. Philip Breedlove, warned on Monday, according to a report that appeared on the Breaking Defense website.
Breedlove, head of US European Command and the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, spoke of a new Russian “bubble of anti-access/area denial” (or A2/AD, as it is known in the Pentagon) in the eastern Mediterranean. This can be used to keep Western militaries out of the airspace over and near Syria.
“From where NATO’s top commander, Gen. Philip Breedlove sits, the Russian forces flowing into Syria don’t look like counter-terrorists out to stop the Islamic State, which Vladimir Putin has said is his highest priority. They look like the first pieces of a layered A2/ AD system that could complicate US and allied operations in Syria and well beyond,” the Breaking Defense report said.
Breedlove spoke to the German Marshall Fund on Monday afternoon, warning that anti-access/area denial is “a growing problem.”