The delivery of 8 Israeli patriots to Ukraine was delayed due to the border tension with Hezbollah 

Israel has expressed doubts about the expediency of transferring eight Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine due to the escalation of the border confrontation with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. This article was reported by the Wall Street Journal.

According to one of the sources of this publication, at first Israel gave the possibility to send eight Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine. Now the cabinet of the Zionist regime believes that “in case of a conflict with Hezbollah in the north of the occupied territories” air defense systems will be needed. 

According to the publication, Israel also fears that military aid to Kiev could “deteriorate relations with Moscow” and lead to violations of agreements that allow the Israeli Air Force to operate in Syrian airspace.

Earlier, a senior Western diplomatic source said that Russia has suspended the implementation of the so-called “Red Line” plan with Israel. The red line is a special security connection line for military coordination between the two sides regarding Syria, and it connected the Russian Hmeimim military base located in the northwest of Syria to the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Israeli army.

According to this newspaper, the transfer of batteries by Israel will actually triple the arsenal of this model of SAM in Ukraine. Currently, Kyiv has four Patriot complexes, two of which were transferred by European countries.

On June 27, the British Financial Times newspaper reported on the negotiations regarding the possible supply of 8 Israeli Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv. It is assumed that Israel will first transfer the complexes to the United States and only then will they be handed over to Ukraine. The deal is not closed yet. Sources of this publication said that Ukraine has been in contact with American officials, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Jake Sullivan, and directly with Israeli representatives.

Translator: Azam Purkand