World War 3 Could Be Just Seconds Away, Warn Experts
(Mian Khalid Jamil, Lahore)
= Syrian airspace has become
increasingly crowded
= U.S. may lose if there is a World War 3
Several military experts have warned in the last few weeks that Russia was
hell-bent to trigger a major conflict in Syria that could escalate into World
War 3. The airspace above Syria has become increasingly crowded as Russian and
Western fighter jets are flying all over the country. According to the Mirror,
Russia claims to have carried out 55 airstrikes against ISIS targets, which the
U.S.-led coalition carried out 24 attacks on ISIS on Saturday.
However, anti-Assad groups trained by CIA reported that Russian airstrikes have
targeted rebels that are fighting to oust President Bashar Al-Assad from power.
Citing an unnamed military expert, the Daily Record says we could be less than
30 seconds from World War 3. Fighter jets, drones, attack helicopters, missiles
and artillery from different countries with a military presence in Syria are
increasingly likely to crash in the congested Syrian airspace.
In one terrifying incident, a U.S. F-16 fighter came within 20 miles of the
Russian Sukhoi-34 warplanes in Syria, says Lt Gen Charles Brown, commander of
the U.S. air campaign in Syria. Given their speeds of travel, it would have
taken the two warplanes less than 30 seconds to collide. One military expert
compared the situation in Syria to getting your mind round a Rubik’s Cube moving
at 1,500 kilometers per hour.
U.S. may lose if there is a World War 3
At any moment a military plane could be shot down in a “catastrophic
misunderstanding of intent.” Many of the American fighter planes had to move
away from their intended targets to avoid Russian jets. China has further
complicated the situation by stationing its aircraft carrier Liaoning off the
coast of Syria, from where it may carry out airstrikes. Military experts have
warned on several occasions that Russia and China would easily crush the United
States if there is a World War 3.
Russia’s objectives in Syria are very different from that of the U.S.-led
coalition. Western countries are working to oust Bashar Al-Assad and establish a
liberal democracy in Syria. But Russia is determined to maintain a pro-Russian
regime in Syria. Meanwhile, experts fear that China could use airstrikes in ISIS
as a cover to support Russia and target the U.S.-trained rebels.