BICOM

Russia supplied the S-300 air defence system to Syria completely free of charge, Russian state news agency TASS reported yesterday.

A Russian military source told TASS that three battalions with eight launchers each were delivered to Syrian military forces on 1 October. The systems were previously deployed at one of the Russian aerospace regiments in Syria, which now uses the S-400 Triumf systems. “The S-300 systems underwent capital repairs at Russian defence enterprises, are in good condition and are capable of performing combat tasks,” the source added. Russia also delivered more than 100 surface-to-air guided missiles for each battalion. The systems supplied to Syria are thought to be worth over $1bn based on previous sales to Iran.

General Joseph Votel, the head of US Central Command, called the S-300 deployment in Syria a “needless escalation”. Israel had made efforts to persuade Moscow not to sell the S-300s to Syria, fearing this would hinder its freedom of operation in Syria to hit Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

Speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of new national heritage site in the Golan Heights, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “I know [Russian President Vladimir] Putin understands my commitment to Israeli security and I know he also understands the importance I place on the Golan.” Netanyahu said he would discuss these threats in an upcoming meeting with Putin.

“We see what is happening beyond the border, unbridled barbarism and attempts by Iran and Hezbollah to set up base. We will stand firm against them. Iran and Hezbollah are ceaselessly attempting to form a force that will operate against us, against the Golan and against the Galilee,” he added.