Russia to equip Syria with new missile defense system
Russia will soon supply the Syrian government with a new, more advanced missile defense system, a senior Russian military official said, following Moscow's condemnation of the US-UK-France airstrikes on Syria earlier last month.
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| Russian S-300 air defense missile system. Photo: AP |
News agencyTASSquoted Colonel General Sergei Rudskoi, Head of the Main Operations Department of the Russian General Staff, speaking to the press on April 25: "Russian experts will continue to train Syrian soldiers, especially teaching them how to use new defense systems, which are expected to be delivered to Syria in the near future."
General Rudskoi’s statement did not mention any specific weapons. However, in previous reports, Russian media said that Moscow was considering selling S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syria.
According to the newspaperJerusalem PostMoscow's sale or consideration of transferring such weapons to the Syrian government has long been a source of tension between Russia and Israel.
Israel is concerned that the S-300 missile defense system will hinder its ability to attack Syrian military sites. According to Israel, this is a real threat to Israel, because it will allow Iran to increase its military presence in Syria.
Russian Ambassador to Israel Alexander Shein on April 25 played down concerns about tensions between the two countries over Israeli strikes against Syria, saying they were not the reason for Moscow’s plans to supply Damascus with a more advanced air defense system.
