The Moscow-Jerusalem axis over Syria

If Syria is now the Kremlin's backyard, then Israel is Russia's much-concerned next-door neighbour.

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia, Syria [Getty]

Russia's offensive in Syria is paying big dividends, and not only for the coalition assembled by Russian President Vladimir Putin. As a consequence of understandings reached between Putin and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the beginning of the Russian bombing campaign in September, Israel has become a silent if uneasy partner, along with Iran and Hezbollah, in the energised campaign to defeat the increasingly besieged opposition.
If "Syria is now the Kremlin's backyard", then Israel is Russia's much-concerned next-door neighbour. In the past decades, Israel has evolved an expanded security doctrine regarding Syria that asserts unchallenged control of the skies over the entire country, a doctrine at once complicated and threatened by Russia's military escalation.

Confusion and disagreement mar forthcoming Syria talks

On the face of it, the Russian deployment represents a strategic challenge to long-held advantages enjoyed by Israel. The Russian deployment in Syria, spearheaded by the transfer of Sukhoi 35 multi-role fighters, the installation of S400 Triumf radar/missile units and the signing of a status of forces agreement, confers upon Russia powers unprecedented in the post-1967 era.

Russia's operational presence

These developments relate not merely to Russia's operational presence. They also represent a Russian commitment to the Assad regime and to the role being played by allies Hezbollah and Iran far beyond any previous demonstration of Russian support in the past half-century