Russia has delivered an S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
He said that Russia had delivered a total of 49 units of military equipment to Syria within the framework of the supplies of S-300 air defense systems aimed at boosting the security of the Russian military personnel in the war-torn country.
“As for the unified air defense control system, we have started to deliver the equipment and will fully complete all work on preparation and training of the crews, creation of a single network by October 20,” Shoigu said.
Early, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the delivery of the S-300 system had been suspended in 2013 following a request from Israel but added: “Now, the situation has changed. And it’s not our fault.”
Russia announced last week that it would supply the anti-aircraft missiles after Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike on September 17 mistakenly shot down a Russian military reconnaissance plane, killing all 15 people on board.
Last week, it was reported that two Russian Air Force 124 Antonov military aircrafts landed in the Russian base near Latakia, transporting equipment and logistics, which had allegedly been loaded onto the planes along the way.
US national security adviser John Bolton had said Russia’s decision to deliver the S-300s would cause a “significant escalation” in Syria’s civil war and had urged Moscow to reconsider.
Russia, along with Iran, has helped Assad recover huge amounts of lost territory in Syria without persuading him to agree to any political reforms. It has also pushed its own talks with Iran and Turkey, known as the Astana process, as U.N-led peace negotiations have stalled.