Russia Shot Down Two US Missiles In The Mediterranean?

Reportedly, on 3 September 2013, Russia shot down two US ballistic missiles that were heading towards the Syrian coast, allegedly 'in the direction of Damascus'.

"The trajectory of these objects goes from the central part of the Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast," Interfax news agency quoted a Russian spokesman as saying.

On 3 September, Israel said it was unaware of any ballistic missile launch being conducted in the eastern Mediterranean. "We are not aware, at this time, of such an event having occurred," a military spokeswoman in Jerusalem said.

Russia detects ballistic launch in Mediterranean; Israel denies

Rota Naval Base in Spain has been used by the USA's ballistic missile submarines.

The missiles were reportedly fired from Spain, or, from the central part of the Mediterranean.

Truth of US-Russia Confrontation

"The launches were detected by the ballistic missile early warning system in Armavir in southern Russia, the defense ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies."

Ballistic missiles launched in central part of the Mediterranean towards Syrian coast

Russia's anti-air-missile-radars registered two ballistic launches in the Mediterranean

Reportedly, Russia shot down the missiles. Then Russia went on war alert and sent a stiff warning to US intelligence.

The UK House of Commons fairly swiftly voted against war. There is a discussion of the issue here: Did Russia Actually Shoot Down Those Missiles?

Dublinmick writes:

Al Manar TV of Lebanon claims Russia shot down two US missiles:

Truth of US-Russia Confrontation

Reportedly:

The Head of the Russian Intelligence Service contacted US intelligence and informed it that:
"Hitting Damascus means hitting Moscow...

"We have removed the term 'downed the two missiles' from our statement to preserve the bilateral relations and to avoid escalation.

"Therefore, you must immediately reconsider your policies, approaches and intentions on the Syrian crisis, as you must be certain that you cannot eliminate our presence in the Mediterranean."...

"One of the first results of the US-Russian military confrontation was the British House of Commons' rejection of participation in a war on Syria."

A well informed diplomatic source told As-Safir newspaper that

"the US war on Syria had started and ended the moment those two ballistic missiles were fired.

"There was conflicting information, as Israel denied the missile attack and Russia confirmed the missile attack.

"An Israeli statement was issued indicating the missiles were fired in the context of an Israeli-US joint drill and fell in the sea, and that they were not related to the Syrian crisis."

The well informed diplomatic source further told the Lebanese daily that

"the US forces fired these two rockets from a NATO base in Spain, and were instantly detected by the Russian radars and confronted by the Russian defense systems, so one of them exploded in the airspace and the second one diverted towards the sea."

In this context, the source pointed out that "the statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry, which stated the detection of two ballistic missiles fired towards the Middle East, deliberately neglected two points: the first was the location from which the two rockets were fired, and the second was their downing.

"Why?

Because the moment the full military operation was launched, the Head of the Russian Intelligence Service contacted US intelligence and informed it that

'hitting Damascus means hitting Moscow, and we have removed the term 'downed the two missiles' from the statement to preserve the bilateral relations and to avoid escalation. Therefore, you must immediately reconsider your policies, approaches and intentions on the Syrian crisis, as you must be certain that you cannot eliminate our presence in the Mediterranean.'" "

This unannounced direct confrontation between Moscow and Washington increased the Obama Administration's certainty that the Russian side was determined to support Syria, and that the US did not have a way out of its impasse except through a Russian initiative which would save America’s face…" he added.

The diplomatic source clarified that "Israel denied knowing anything about the rocket firing in its first statement, which is the truth.

"Washington demanded that Tel Aviv take responsibility for the rocket firing to save the USA's face in front of the International Community..."

Finally, the source pointed out that

"One of the first results of the US-Russian military confrontation was the British House of Commons' rejection of participation in a war on Syria. This was followed by European statements, most significantly, the German opposition to participation in a war - announced by Chancellor Angela Merkel."

Moron Airbase in Spain is used by the US military

Anaconda (a reader) comments:

If accurate, yes, this is huge. And, why a ballistic missile strike?

But also, where was the intercept made? It seems it would be upon re-entry on the down side of the parabolic path, but, then, again, the description sounds as if it was towards the initial launch point. But, then, again, the intercept was reported to be in the East Mediterranean of the coast of Syria.

Interception of a ballistic missile is a "big deal" in terms of technological ability. Much, much, harder than a cruise missile or even a fighter jet. e are talking capability to intercept a supersonic projectile.

All public reports refer to interception of ballistic missiles at the early post launch stage (the clime on the parabolic flight path).

Russia has technology the U. S. public is not aware of (I'm an American)?

Why launch ballistic missiles, in any event? (as opposed to cruise missiles?) hat? Plausible deniability?

And what was it designed to achieve? Would Syria attempt to retaliate against the U. S. destroyers off shore? r simply punishment?

...Syria has important geopolitical significance, in its own right, but not enough, I would think, to cause the U. S. to launch ballistic missiles at Syria.

Could this have been a 'head shot' in an attempt to take out Assad?

Clearly, the corrupt leadership in Washington D. C. is desperate to get regime change.