Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia was ready to supply Syria with defensive weapons. The Ministers assurance came in the wake of a meeting between the two countries leaders’ at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Israeli media reported on August 25 that Russia was planning to deploy Iskander surface-to-air missiles in Syria and at its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, in response to a proposed US missile shield in Central Europe and arm sales by the US and Israel to Georgia1.

• 1. “Russia Says Ready To Supply Syria With Defensive Weapons,” August 21, 2008, at http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Russia_Says_Ready_To_Supply_Syria_With_D...