S-300s nix anti-Syria front’s military option

TEHRAN,June 8(MNA)--Russia’s recent decision to deliver S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria will definitely alter the equations in the conflict in that country. The long-awaited move definitely nixes the plot of the United States, Israel, and the reactionary Arab states, which have been trying to prepare the ground for an all-out war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for over two years. Russia’s decision also weakens the West’s support for the rebels fighting against the Syrian government since it will eliminate the anti-Syria front’s options to establish a no-fly zone or mount airstrikes. The decision was taken after Israel launched two airstrikes against Syria, which caused great ire in the region and the rest of the world. The move has clearly had an effect on the Westerners and their regional allies and has compelled them to change their approach toward the crisis in Syria. Since the beginning of the conflict, the anti-Syria front has used everything at their disposal to support the terrorists fighting against Assad. However, over the past few weeks, the foes of Syria have obviously revised their stance, and it appears that they have now decided to try to strike a deal with Assad and his allies at the upcoming Geneva II conference. In other words, the option of military intervention is off the table, and dialogue and interaction are the new buzz words. Assad’s recent interview with the Lebanese television network Al-Manar, in which he elaborated on the Syrian army’s major victories against the armed rebels on the ground, shows that he has been able to increase his control over the situation. Assad also said that any agreement made in Geneva would need to be approved in a plebiscite, in which the Syrian people would determine their own future. All this shows that Assad’s popularity is rising in Syria, which strengthens his hand in the face of the foreign conspiracies. The strategic balance of power is now shifting in favor of the Syrian government, and Russia’s fulfillment of its commitment to deliver the missiles is certainly a game changer that will benefit Assad. Hossein Ruivaran is a Middle East expert based in Tehran. (By Hossein Ruivaran)