According to Avia.pro, Despite the existing agreements between Russia and Israel regarding Syria, an Israeli military reconnaissance aircraft was seen near the Russian military base in Tartus several hours ago, approaching the Russian Navy base at a distance of 60-65 kilometers.
SAMA Strategy Analysis, a group monitoring developments in the Middle East and Northern Africa, also detected the plane as it flew off the shores of Lebanon before approaching the naval base in Tartus.
The plane was identified as the Israeli Air Force (IAF) Nahshon-Eitam airborne early warning and control (AEW&C). The plane, which was built on the basis of the Gulfstream G550, was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elta Electronics Industries.
The Israeli Air Force Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Aitam (569, 738A4D) as flight 4X980 fly for the first time at such distance near Tartus. pic.twitter.com/a3mayXgtr1
— KI Design (@KIDataApp) September 25, 2019
The Nahshon-Eitam is equipped with the EL/W-2085 active electronically scanned array (AESA) multi-band radar system. Besides its main task as an AEW&C, the plane can carry out surveillance missions.
This is the first time that the Israeli plane came so close to the Russian naval base.
According to Avia.pro, the plane was most likely interested in air defense systems, including the Russian S-300 missile systems, which provide security from the direction of Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Syrian S-300, located near the city of Masyaf.
According to a number of sources, these air defense systems have been put on full alert, and within the next 72 hours, the Syrian military expects new possible strikes from Israel.
Currently, there is a dispute between Israel and Russia about the feasibility of airstrikes on Syrian and Iraq targets. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to convince Putin not to interfere with Israel’s military operations in Syria, but Putin insists that Russia will not let Israel harm the Syrian Armed Forces, because the Kremlin continues to support Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Earlier, it was reported that the Kremlin allegedly gave the Syrian military permission to use its Russian-made aerial defense systems against Israel, provided that Syria takes responsibility for the consequences
