Middle East Defence & Security

[swerve]

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Russian forces securing a Syrian Su-24 position, it's unclear if Russia intends to claim the jets for themselves. Russia donated a number of Su-24M2s to the Syrians, upon them being withdrawn from Russian service.

Военный Осведомитель

Для тех, кто переживал о судьбе сирийских Су-24МК2. Да, их асадовцы тоже бросили. Наши ребята эту оплошность исправили. «Новым властям» машины не достаются.

t.me

The Ukrainians are still using them, IIRC. Maybe they could find a new home.

 

[Feanor]

You're mistaking lack of overt hostility with friendship. By the same logic I could say the US and China are friendly nations to one another, just because they're not actively fighting a war. But that won't make it true. The entire cold war was characterized by a de facto war being prosecuted without going "hot", instead through proxies.
During the cold war, the USSR was a major antagonist for Israel. It supported, armed, and even fought beside - the Arab states that waged war on Israel.
When the USSR fell, Russia remained an arms supplier to Israel's enemies. Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, etc - all had modern Russian, not Soviet, weapons.

It's a little more complex than that. Right now Russian UCAVs are striking Ukrainian forces in the Kursk border area with UAVs and munitions developed with Israeli help. In point of fact if Russia and NATO end up at war, weapons develop with Israeli assistance will be used against NATO forces. I'm reasonably confident Elbit is no longer camped out in the Urals, but what year did they stop?

The Ukrainians are still using them, IIRC. Maybe they could find a new home.

Absolutely. Ex-Syrian MiG-29s and Su-24s would help Ukraine a lot. Though it's an open question whether Israel will leave them intact if they fall into rebel hands.