AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Russia has started delivering S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syrian forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations (UN) on Friday that "the delivery started already" after a decision was reached following downing of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft which was hit by a Syrian missile.
Moscow said Israel was culpable as the Il-20 was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighter jets attacked targets in northwestern Syria.
"As President [Vladimir] Putin said, after that incident ... the measures that we will take will be devoted to ensuring 100 percent safety and security of our men," said Lavrov.
The move comes in defiance of opposition from the United States and Israel.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton called Moscow's decision a "major mistake".
"We think introducing the S-300s to the Syrian government would be a significant escalation by the Russians and something that we hope, if these press reports are accurate, they would reconsider," he said on Monday.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Friday he hoped the missile system would help close the country's sky for Israeli warplanes.
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29 September 2018 - 12:58
News ID: 910943
Russia has started delivering S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syrian forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
