Israeli Defense Systems In Wartorn, Ukraine
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Ukraine has received Israeli-made radar defense systems, which have already been deployed in Kyiv, the capital, as of Monday, Israeli media reported.
A Lithuanian volunteer organization known as Blue/Yellow delivered 16 ieMHR models made by Israel’s RADA Electronic Industries last week, and three are already in use in the Ukrainian capital, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz said.
The systems are designed to detect aerial threats, including missiles, rockets, mortar shells, helicopters, and drones within up to a 10km (6.2-mile) radius.
Delivery of actual Israeli battlefield systems to Ukraine is a rarity in the current conflict, the paper noted.
Despite repeated requests from Ukraine and other countries, especially after supplying Iranian drones to Russia, Israel refused to deliver Ukraine with air defense systems.
Among the Israeli systems sought by Ukraine are Iron Dome or Barak missiles. However, Israel’s government has been reluctant to deliver them amid fears that these measures would enrage Russia. Those tensions could harm Israel’s interests, including its operations in Syria, where Russia’s military is supporting the Syrian leadership, officials say.
Israel also refused Kyiv’s request for Hawk missile batteries, claiming that they are old systems that have been in storage for years and are no longer operational, Ha’aretz reported.
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Spain and the United States delivered Kyiv with refurbished and updated Hawk missile batteries.
News of the Israeli deliveries came as Germany’s foreign minister said China could play a “decisive role” in ending the war in Ukraine.
Speaking alongside her Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, in Berlin on Tuesday, Annalena Baerbock said that as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China had the power to be influential in the conflict and bring it to an end.
However, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, said Russia “will prevail” in its fight against what he described as “imperialists,” the state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday.
His remarks were seen as aimed at Ukraine and its Western supporters such as the United States.
North Korea has forged closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year.
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