The German media, however, suggests these will be used against Russia, as it is mostly Russian aircraft operating there.
“We believe that introducing surface-to-air missiles in Syria is going to change the balance of power on the ground. It will allow the moderate opposition to be able to neutralize the helicopters and aircraft that are dropping chemicals and have been carpet-bombing them, just like surface-to-air missiles in Afghanistan were able to change the balance of power there,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in an interview with German Spiegel.
However, another German outlet, Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten, suggests that the minister’s reference to the “moderate opposition” is a pure euphemism, because the militant groups on the ground are, in fact, being remotely operated by global or regional powers and act in cooperation with such terrorist organizations as the Al-Nusra Front.
Meanwhile, the top Saudi diplomat clearly specified that his country's final aim is to topple Syria's legitimate president and “Russia will not save him.”
“In the long term, it will be a Syria without Bashar Assad,” he told Spiegel. “The longer it takes, the worse it will get.”
Adel al-Jubeir reiterated that Riyadh is also prepared to invade Syria with ground troops, as long as the US-led coalition gives the go-ahead.
“The air campaign started, but it became very obvious that there may have to be a ground component. Saudi Arabia has said that if the US-led coalition against Daesh is prepared to engage in ground operations, we will be prepared to participate with special forces,” he stated.
