Fears grow of Syrian arms race as EU and Russia move on weapons

Fears grow of Syrian arms race as EU and Russia move on weapons

Fears are growing of a foreign-fed arms race in Syria as the European Union, driven by Britain and France, decided to allow weapons to be sold to the rebels, and Russia disclosed that it will provide Syria with sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles.

A Free Syrian Army fighter shooting at Syrian Army positions in Menag, Syria in March, 2013. Mr Hague insisted that Britain had "no plans to send arms at the moment." "This decision today gives us the flexibility in the future to respond to a worsening situation, or to a refusal of the Assad regime to negotiate. It gives us that flexibility, so it is a good decision and I am very pleased with it." Photo: EPA

Agencies

2:54PM BST 28 May 2013

Either development would significantly raise the firepower in the two-year civil war has already killed more than 70,000 people and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing the country, just as key countries prepare for a major peace conference in Geneva that had been described as the best chance yet to end the bloodshed.

Russian officials criticised the EU decision last night to allow their arms embargo against Syria to expire, freeing its member countries to provide weapons for the outgunned rebels. Russia, which has been a strong supporter of the Syrian government, said the British- and French-driven decision undermined peace efforts.

Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, said that Russia has signed a contract with the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad to provide it with state-of-the-art S-300 air defence missiles, which he said were important to prevent foreign intervention in the country.

Mr Ryabkov would not say whether Russia has shipped any of the missiles to Syria yet. He said Russia understood the concerns about providing such weapons to Syria, but believed that may "help restrain some hot-heads considering a scenario to give an international dimension to this conflict".

EU diplomats have said Britain and France are considering providing equipment to the rebels. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, acknowledged many EU states had found it difficult to lift the arms embargo but insisted the move sent a "strong signal" to the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Mr Hague insisted that Britain had "no plans to send arms at the moment".

"This decision today gives us the flexibility in the future to respond to a worsening situation, or to a refusal of the Assad regime to negotiate. It gives us that flexibility, so it is a good decision and I am very pleased with it," he said.

Syrian neighbours Turkey and Lebanon risk being drawn into the conflict - as does Israel.

Today, Israel's defence minister said his country "will know what to do" if Russia delivers anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, in an apparent allusion to another air strike on its neighbour.

"The deliveries have not taken place, and I hope they do not. But if, by misfortune, they arrive in Syria, we will know what to do," Moshe Yaalon said.

Earlier this month, Israel launched air raids inside Syria targeting what sources said were arms destined for its arch foe, Lebanese militant group Hizbollah, whose fighters have entered the conflict alongside the Syrian army.

The strikes ramped up regional tension, with Syria threatening to hit back.

Israel and Russia's opposing standpoints over Syria surfaced shortly afterwards, with the Jewish state criticising Russian arms deals with Assad, and Moscow appearing to warn against further Israeli strikes.

Mr Ryabkov called the EU move to end its arms embargo "a manifestation of double standards" that will hurt the prospects for the Geneva talks, which are expected to happen in June.

In Damascus, a Syrian lawmaker today also criticised the EU decision, saying that efforts to arm the rebels will discourage the opposition from seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict. The comments by Essam Khalil, a member of the parliament for the ruling Baath Party, were the first by a Syrian official.

US Sen John McCain, meanwhile, made an unannounced visit to rebel forces in Syria, putting more pressure on Assad to seek a negotiated settlement.

Edited at telegraph.co.uk by Sarah Titterton