These are all separate issues, right? Bad guy roundup..Iran, Syria, and

Iran, Syria synchronizing air defense, signals intelligence to counter any U.S. attack

LONDON — Iran and Syria have begun an effort to ensure military interoperability.

Western intelligence sources said the effort is meant to ensure that the two militaries could coordinate attacks, share information and launch joint ground and missile operations. The effort began in 2005 and was formalized in a defense cooperation accord signed last November.

"The effort is being financed by Iran and is meant to ensure that a U.S. attack on Iran would be countered by attacks on the U.S. military presence in Iraq from both east and west," a source said.

Iran and Syria operate medium-range Scud-class ballistic missiles, with weapons jointly produced.

The two countries have also consolidated their signals intelligence network. The source said Iran has provided technology and financing to establish two SIGINT stations in Syria.

One station is in the Jazirah region in northern Syria near the Turkish border. The other is in the Golan Heights near Israel.

The source said two additional stations were planned with all four to be completed in 2007. Iranian and Syrian personnel will staff the stations.

The two countries also plan to cooperate in air defense. Under two agreements signed over the past year, Damascus and Teheran pledged to make their air defense batteries interoperable, allowing for either country to help the other during an emergency.

Over the past year, Iran has ordered the TOR-M1 short-range air defense system from Russia. Syria has purchased the SA-18 Igla-S system.

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