Russia to Supply Syria With Air-Defense System, Raising Tensions With Israel
Russia to Supply Syria With Air-Defense System, Raising Tensions With Israel by James Marson – Wall Street Journal
The Russian government announced plans to send a powerful air-defense system to Syria, escalating tensions with Israel following the downing of a Russian war plane last week that the Kremlin has blamed on Israeli forces.
Syrian air defense systems shot down the Russian reconnaissance plane, killing 15 service members on board, as they defended against Israeli military jets that were attacking Iranian targets in Syria.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday that Russia would supply its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with an S-300 missile system within two weeks. He noted that Russia postponed delivery of the system in 2013 at the request of Israel, but the situation had changed…