Meanwhile, Moscow has reportedly transferred electronic warfare systems to Syria’s Latakia. Russia’s defense chief said the systems will make it harder for Israel to conduct airstrikes.
FILE PHOTO: Belarus’ OSA-AKM surface-to-air missile launchers and S-300 anti-aircraft systems move to firing positions during a military drill, Volka, Belarus, September 19, 2017.AFP
AIWA! NO!//Russia will transfer two to four S-300 air defense missile systems to Syria within the next two weeks, the Russian news website Kommersant reported Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the details.The Assad regime will use the systems to defend Syria’s coastline and its borders with Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, the report said. According to the official, the amount of systems Russia will transfer to Syria may increase, depending on the circumstances, to anywhere between six and eight.
>> Analysis: With Russia’s S-300 in Syria, Israel will have to think twice about next strike
Meanwhile, Russian outlet Izvestia reported that Moscow is boosting its electronic warfare systems in Syria, which were brought to the country on Monday on board an Illusion-76 cargo plane to Khmeimim air base in Latakia. Russian President Vladimir Putin notified Syrian President Bashar Assad about the shipment in a phone call Monday, the report added.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced Monday that his country would supply Syria with S-300 ground-to-air missiles, a week after Moscow blamed Israel for indirectly causing the downing of a Russian military plane in Syria.