DEBKAfile: Russia Upgrades Syria-Based Electronic Station

The Russians have upgraded their Jabal Al Harrah electronic and surveillance station south of Damascus opposite Israel's Sea of Galilee, adding resources especially tailored to give Tehran early warning of an oncoming US or Israeli attack, DEBKAfile's US military sources report. Before it was boosted by extra advanced technology and manpower, the station covered civilian and military movements in northern Israel up to Tel Aviv, northern Jordan and western Iraq. Today, its range extends to all parts of Israel and Jordan, the Gulf of Aqaba and northern Saudi Arabia. Part two of Moscow's project for extending the range of its Middle East ears and eyes consist of upgrading the Russian-equipped Syrian radar stationed on Lebanon's Mount Sannine and connecting it to the Jabal Al Harrah facility in Syria. Russian technicians have completed this project also. Russia is now able to additionally track US and Israeli naval and aerial movements in the Eastern Mediterranean up to and including Cyprus and Greece. According to our sources, the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kutznetsov's stay at the Syrian port of Tartus through most of January and up to mid-February had the special mission of keeping an eye out for any Israeli preparations for attacking Iran, Syria or Hizballah. It filled the gap left by the Russian station south of Damascus, which was fully occupied with feeding data of Syrian opposition movements to Bashar Assad and watching out for signs of foreign intervention, military or covert, against his regime.