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Source: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Swords_and_Shields_Russia_shields_Syria_999.html
Russia Shields Syria
[UPI/Space War] Ariel Cohen - Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Mediterranean is a significant show of force and a potential threat to America's ally Israel. The increased Russian naval presence in the region means that the Kremlin is seeking to cultivate Syria as a close regional ally as it looks to secure additional bases for the fleet. In addition, Russia would be able to deploy electronic intelligence-gathering ships that could improve Syria's ability to monitor NATO and Israeli transmissions. The Russian layered air defenses, both short-range TOR and long-range S-300 anti-aircraft systems, are capable of providing the defensive envelope to Syrian nuclear research activities, as well as to the significant chemical weapons arsenal deliverable by Damascus' short-range ballistic missiles.