US sent Stinger missiles to Turkey and Egypt, which are now part of increasing tensions with Israel
Russia accused the US of sending Stinger Missiles into Syria, assisting the rebels with the removal of Bashar al-Assad.
While the US was quick to dismiss these claims, even more investigation reveals that Syria is NOT alone in receipt of these weapons, but also Turkey and Egypt.
Connecting the dots points to the escalation of tension by the Egyptians towards Israel is with US SUPPLIED weapons and the arms dealings with Libya (and now Syria) was paid with these missiles.
This is from Defense Industry Daily (h/t Ellis):
In fall 2011, Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $26 million firm-fixed-price contract from Egypt and Turkey for 174 Stinger FIM-92H Block 1 missiles, 10 Electronic Component Assemblies, and spare parts. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-09-C-0508).
A similar contract was issued in June 2009. Stinger is usually carried by soldiers as a shoulder-fired (MANPADS) missile, and that very portability has led to increased concern about keeping MANPADS weapons out of the hands of terrorists. Egypt recently revived the production linefor HMMWV-mounted “Avenger” low-altitude air defense systems. They combine the Stinger missile with a .50 caliber machine gun, and advanced detection and tracking sensors. Turkey is also one of the missile’s many customers, and Roketsan handles license production of rocket motors within the European Common Stinger Production Consortium. They have their own Self-Propelled(Autonomous) Low Altitude Air Defence Missile System Project, which appears to use the M113 as their base platform.
In August it was reported Egypt violated the peace treaty with Israel and moved weapons into the Sinai.
Arab Affairs Correspondent Eran Zinger reports:
It must be said that the situation is very fluid. This is something that is happening in these recent days, that the Egyptian army is showing determination it did not show in the past to battle terror elements. […]
I’m talking about the introduction of advanced weapons by elements trying to change the situation. So if the Egyptian Army is trying now to change the situation in the Sinai with weapons it’s not supposed to put there, then this should concern Israel. And if the rebels in Syria start to receive from the Americans Stinger missiles to hit Syrian Air Force planes, then this should also concern us.
Even before the anti-aircraft missiles report, Ha’aretz called the Sinai deployment “the most extensive activity by the army in Sinai since the Yom Kippur War 39 years ago.” It reported over the weekend that Egypt’s “unilateral” decision to move heavy weaponry into the Sinai “should set off warning bells in Jerusalem.”
Israel had prior knowledge about, and consented to, the use of some of the military reinforcements that were sent into the peninsula as well as the warplanes that were employed. But Egypt took action above and beyond what both sides agreed the Egyptian military needed to do in order to operate throughout Sinai. It turns out that additional forces were sent in, almost without anyone noticing, and without Jerusalem’s agreement
A shoulder style Stinger missile launcher SSGT DANNY PEREZ, U.S. Air Force
