Russia gives Lebanaon 10 Mig 29s

Guardian:

Russia yesterday moved to expand its growing military influence in the Middle East when it announced it is giving Lebanon 10 fighter jets, in the most significant upgrade of Lebanon's military since the civil war ended almost two decades ago.

Russia's defence ministry said it was giving the secondhand MiG-29s to Beirut free of charge. The gift was part of a defence cooperation deal that would see Moscow train Lebanese military personnel.

Russia is also reportedly preparing to sell SA-20 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. The Israelis have dispatched an envoy to Moscow to try to persuade the Kremlin not to go ahead with the deal, which would allow Tehran to shoot down Israeli fighter jets that swooped into Iranian airspace.

The moves signal the latest Russian efforts to regain its former cold war role as the Arab world's chief patron - and its main supplier of arms. They also trump a faltering US effort in Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have long been western-oriented, but although the US has continued training troops, it has failed to deliver on requests for larger military hardware because of its wariness over Hezbollah.

"This is Russia challenging America's monopoly [on the LAF] and could also be a message to Israel after their support for Georgia in South Ossetia," said Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general. "I fear Lebanon will be caught in the middle."

Defence experts say the MiGs are unlikely to alter the military balance of power between Lebanon and Israel, pointing out that Israel's air force will continue to enjoy overwhelming superiority. But the Russian jets will enable Beirut to replace its ageing fleet of British Hawker Hunter jets, built in the 1950s.

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The planes might last 10 minutes in a confrontation with the IAF, but they are certainly better than the planes they replace. More worrisome for the Israelis are the SA-20 anti aircraft missiles for Iran. Israel can probably defeat them, but if they determine it is too risky, that may leave Israel with the only option of launching a missile attack on Iran with some if its nukes, if Israel perceives the Iranians are getting ready to attack.

You can read more on the challenge of the Sa-20s in Iran here.