Thread by @Charles_Lister

Absolutely extraordinary.

#Syria’s air defense systems have no way to determine “friend” from “foe.” #Russia doesn’t export that tech.

Within a complex & unpredictable environment, that raises the risk to civilian aircraft
significantly.

https://twitter.com/hdevreij/status/1042717187209945089

#Israel says #Syria’s air defense fired “dozens” of anti-aircraft missiles from several batteries across the country over the space of 40-mins… *after* #IAF planes had returned to #Israel.

One took down #Russia’s IL-20.

timesofisrael.com/syria-fired-mi…

To me, this looks like messaging more than a truly dramatic change in reality/dynamics:

- S-300s already deployed in #Syria.

- #Israel (& US) uses encrypted radar/GPS; less vulnerable to counter-measures

- #Russia has been “jamming” for 2+ yrs.

- #Israel fires most from Med.

https://twitter.com/israel_mid_ru/status/1044170661655187456

The irony in this #Russia claim is extraordinary.

The true danger to civilian aircraft is posed by #Moscow’s failure to provide “friend-foe” tech to AD/SAM sales.

#Assad’s missiles have been flying blind all this time, which is truly shocking.

https://twitter.com/michaelh992/status/1043779069211500544

.@hasanalhamada, a MiG-21 jet pilot who defected with his aircraft to #Jordan in June 2012, says a #Russia S-300 delivery to #Assad would first & foremost be a message to #NATO & then to #Turkey. #Iran would gain the most…

https://twitter.com/hasanalhamada/status/1044264867413348352