Russia gives Syria powerful missile system as warning to Israel
dpa
MOSCOW (dpa)- Russia will provide an S-300 surface-to-air missile system to its ally Syria within the next two weeks, Russia's Defence Ministry said Monday, in a warning to Israel.
Moscow's military blamed Israel last week when Syrian state forces shot down a Russian reconnaissance plane amid a bombing raid by Israeli jets.
Russia had for the past five years abided by a request from Israel not to deliver an S-300 system to neighbouring Syria, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
"Today the situation has changed," the statement said. The S-300 is touted as being able to engage airborne targets at a distance of up to 250 kilometres.
Russia's military has said that Israeli jets manoeuvred behind the Russian plane to take cover from a Syrian-operated S-200 system.
Israel has insisted its jets were already in Israeli airspace when the Russian plane was shot down. Fifteen Russian personnel were killed in the crash.
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"Today the situation has changed," the statement said. The S-300 is touted as being able to engage airborne targets at a distance of up to 250 kilometres.
Russia's military has said that Israeli jets manoeuvred behind the Russian plane to take cover from a Syrian-operated S-200 system.
Israel has insisted its jets were already in Israeli airspace when the Russian plane was shot down. Fifteen Russian personnel were killed in the crash.
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