NATO announced deploying of sophisticated AWACS surveillance aircraft to Iraq and Syria to fight ISIL
NATO announced deploying of sophisticated AWACS surveillance aircraft to Iraq and Syria to fight ISIL, but observers believe it is aimed at Russia which is carrying out airstrikes in support of the Syrian government. 
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that the surveillance aircraft could be flown over “NATO territory and international airspace” to help the fight against ISIL.
AWACS are aircraft with powerful radars that allow them to monitor airspace for hundreds of kilometers around.
Analysts say the use of such a complicated system against ISIL and other militants, as claimed by the US and NATO, is questionable. The system is designed to detect aircraft, ships and vehicles at long ranges and control and command the battle space in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes.
According to Stoltenberg, the deployment of AWACS aircraft comes at the request of US which is opposed to the Syrian government.
In February, the alliance agreed “in principle” to the US request under the caveat that that NATO planes would not be directly involved in the conflict.
Several European NATO members have been wary of becoming too involved in the bloody conflict.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Thursday that "explicit and formal involvement" of NATO in the fight "is certainly not the answer."
Observers believe such a deployment could fuel tensions between NATO and Russia, which regards the alliance’s eastward military buildup as a threat to its strategic interests.
On Thursday, NATO foreign ministers in Brussels finalized details of a massive military build-up in Eastern Europe aimed at Russia.
The two-day meeting was aimed at preparing for a "landmark" summit in Poland in July during which the members will officially approve deploying more troops into east Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly criticized the deployment and vowed to neutralize any threats against Russia.
