TEL AVIV, Israel, March 2 (UPI) -- Israeli officials Friday criticized Russia for agreeing to provide Syria with advanced missiles that could penetrate Israel's Merkava tanks.
The Russian AT-15 anti-tank missiles have a range of 6 kilometers, beyond the Merkavas', and can overcome some of the Israeli measures designed to protect the tanks.
Officials are concerned the arms would reach the Lebanese Hezbollah. During last year's war in Lebanon, Russian anti-tank missiles were fired at Israeli tanks and damaged some.
The Jerusalem Post Friday quoted Vice Premier Shimon Peres as saying the supply of arms to Syria "encouraged Damascus to turn to war."
"Syria is moving between peace overtures and its temptations to go to war, to which arms supply is an incentive," Peres added.
Former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "seemingly decided to restore Russia's Soviet-empire status," and was "playing with fire."
The military intelligence Sunday told the Cabinet the Syrians are using Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to fight Israel although Damascus is indicating a desire for a peace process.
Director of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the ministers, "The prospects for a Syrian-initiated full scale war are low," but the chances it would react militarily to Israeli military moves are high.
The Mossad secret service said Syria is trying to improve its defensive military capability and is more ready to take risks and retaliate with force to Israeli moves. In the past, Israel sent F-15s over President Bashar Assad's home in northern Syria to signal to him to stop aiding militant groups that attack Israel.
