A Syrian Air Force fighter jet loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad flies past before firing missiles at Erbeen near Damascus January 26, 2013, in this picture provided by Shaam News Network. Picture taken January 26, 2013. REUTERS-Karm Seif-Shaam News Network-Handout
Russia, a veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security Council, will not permit no-fly zones to be imposed over Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Monday.
“I think we fundamentally will not allow this scenario,” Lukashevich told a news briefing, adding that calls for a no-fly zone showed disrespect for international law.
Lukashevich spoke before planned talks between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of a G8 summit in Northern Ireland which were expected to focus on the conflict in Syria that has killed at least 93,000 people.
Russia and the United States are trying to bring representatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his foes to the negotiating table, but Moscow has criticized U.S. plans to arm rebel forces and to consider imposing a no-fly zone.
If Obama pushes ahead with this it will be the first time our airmen have had to face Russian military aircraft piloted by Russian aviators. We should be very concerned about this. I have flown MIG fighter jets with Russian military pilots and they are some of the best pilots in the world. Their entire line of Sukhoi aircraft are lethal and like nothing we have had to face before.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/russia-stealth/
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