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Putin rethinks rocket sales to Syria despite pledge to Sharon


LONDON- Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to re-examine a Syrian request for the Iskander-E rocket, also known as the SS-26. Western diplomatic sources said Putin would review an earlier decision that rejected the export of the Iskander-E to Syria. In May 2005, Putin promised Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Moscow would not sell the advanced medium-range Iskander-E to Damascus. Sources said Putin urged Sharon not to publicize their discussion or his pledge. Within days, however, Sharon leaked Putin's decision to the Israeli media, the sources said, infuriating Russia's Defense Ministry, which has deemed Syria a key defense market in the Middle East. "Putin has come under tremendous pressure from Russia's defense industry and military to export the Iskander-E," a diplomatic source said. "They argue that without exports, the Russian army won't be able to afford advanced versions of the rocket." The Iskander-E has been deemed a priority of the Syrian military. The rocket, with a range of 280 kilometers, would provide Syria with a first-strike capability to destroy or neutralize military airports and critical facilities in northern and central Israel. Putin was expected to decide whether to sell the Iskander-E by the end of 2005, the sources said. Syria has been unable to fulfill Russian financial terms for the rocket sale and was waiting for assistance from Saudi Arabia. In late September, Syrian Chief of Staff Gen. Ali Habib renewed the Syrian request for Iskander-E during a visit to Moscow. The sources said Habib toured the Iskander-E production line and was briefed on the weapon. "Putin is in a bind," one source said. "On one hand, he wants to maintain  strategic relations with Syria. On the other hand, he doesn't want to give Syria first-strike capability against Israel." The sources said Russia has agreed to sell Syria the SA-18 Igla-S surface-to-air missile as well as anti-tank rockets, spare parts, and upgrades for Syrian air defense batteries. The Iskander-E was the only strategic weapon demanded by the Assad regime. Source: Geostrategy