Russia to upgrade Syrian air defenses
Russia is to send new anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, a week after Syrian forces accidentally shot down a Russian aircraft during an Israeli air strike.
Russian Defense Mini-ster Sergei Shoigu said that the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system would be delivered within two weeks. Fifteen Russian military personnel were killed when the reconnaissance aeroplane was downed on 17 September.
Syria and Russia say Israel was to blame, but it denies responsibility.In remarks quoted by Russian news agency Interfax, Shoigu said the delivery of the system had been suspended in 2013 following a request from Israel, but added: "Now, the situation has changed. And it's not our fault."
"In parts of the Mediterranean adjacent to Syria, there will be radio-electronic jamming of satellite navigation, onboard radars and communications systems used by military aircraft attacking targets in Syrian territory," he said.The systems will also be able to track and identify Russian aircraft.Russia is supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war.
The incident is reported to have occurred about 35km from the Syrian coast as the Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft was returning to Russia's Hmeimim airbase near the north-western city of Latakia. Russia's Tass news agency said at the time that the plane "disappeared during an attack by four Israeli F-16 jets on Syrian facilities in Latakia province".
Reports on Syrian state media spoke of an attack in the area shortly before the plane disappeared. According to Sana news agency, the military said it had intercepted "enemy missiles coming from the open sea towards the city of Latakia".
