Russia to send S-300 missile defence systems to Syria

In a televised statement on Monday, Shoigu said the decision to “transfer the modern S-300 air defence system to the Syrian armed forces within two weeks” was taken by President Vladimir Putin and is one of the “response measures”.

On the same day, the Kremlin accused Israeli pilots of “premeditated actions” over the downing of a Russian plane in Syria last week, warning it will harm relations between the two countries.

“According to information of our military experts, the reason (behind the downing) were premeditated actions by Israeli pilots which certainly cannot but harm our relations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

However, the Kremlin said the installation of S-300 was aimed at increasing safety of Russian military and “not directed at any third country”.

Russia will also block navigation and settalie systems as well as communications of warplanes operating in eastern Mediterranean, according to the defence minister.

Moscow has blamed Israel for the accidental shooting down of the aircraft with 15 people onboard. Israeli military, however, said that Syria’s indiscriminate air defence fire was the cause of plane crash.

Russian defence ministry says it will send S-300 air defence system to Syrian military within the fortnight. A direct response to Israel for the loss of the IL-20 last week. Israel had previously persuaded Russia not to give Damascus the tech.

— Rory Challands (@rorychallandsAJ) September 24, 2018

Another interesting move from Russian MoD (alongside s-300s to Syrian mil) is intention to jam sat-nav, radar, and warplane comms systems in eastern Med. Theoretically this will make it much harder for Israeli planes to operate there. And anyone else’s.

— Rory Challands (@rorychallandsAJ) September 24, 2018

Fifteen servicemen on board were killed by Syrian friendly fire in the incident which Moscow blamed on the Israeli air force.

The Russian military said the Il-20 electronic intelligence plane was hit 35km off Syria’s Mediterranean coast as it returned to its home base nearby.

Russian defence officials described manoeuvres by Israeli fighter jets during the incident as “hostile” and said it had a right to retaliate.

Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said the announcement on missiles seemed to be linked to the incident with Israel.

“The S-300 was a deal that had been signed with Syria in 2013, but Israel put its foot down on negotiation with Russia and Russia decided that it was going to hold off delivering these units,” he said.

“In the aftermath of the events last week in which a Russian plane was shot down in the area over the Syrian coast, Russia has obviously decided to go against that agreement with Israel.”

Friendly fire

Monday’s incident highlighted the dangers posed by the conflicting interests of various powers in the crowded skies over war-torn Syria and threatened to damage relations between Russia and Israel. 

The incident was also the worst case of friendly fire between Russia and Syria since Moscow’s military intervention in the country in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in September 2015.

Since intervening in Syria’s war, Russia has generally turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks inside the country. 

Israel has carried out about 200 air raids in the last two years, according to Israeli officials.

For several years, Israel and Russia have maintained a special hotline to prevent their air forces from clashing in the skies over Syria. Israeli military officials have previously praised its effectiveness.

A dispute between Israel and Russia could restrict Israel’s ability to mount air raids inside Syria on what it considers the greatest threat to its security from the Syria conflict: the build-up of Iranian forces or Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies