�Syria has new radar from Iran�

The Jerusalem Post (Link) (July 2, 2010)

Iran has provided Syria with an advanced radar system that could give it early warning of an Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, quoting Israeli and US officials.

According to the report, information gathered by the radar could also be used by Hizbullah to increase its defenses and improve missile accuracy.

Iran and Syria denied the occurrence of any radar transfer.

�Iran is engaged in developing Syrian intelligence and aerial detection capabilities, and Iranian representatives are present in Syria for that express purpose,� the IDF Spokesman�s Office told the paper. �Radar assistance is only one expression of that cooperation.�

Placing advanced radar in Syria is strongly in Iran�s interest, the officials said, as it would provide Iran with better visibility of Israeli airspace and could serve as an early warning of a developing Israeli air strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Syria�s interest in advanced radar was probably enhanced by the IAF raid on an alleged nuclear reactor being built in Syria in September 2007, when Syria�s air defenses failed to repel the attack.