Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that Syria’s air defense systems shot down more than half of Israeli missiles.
In a statement, the Russian ministry said that Israeli strikes on Syria saw 28 planes take part in raids with a total of around 70 missiles fired.
Zionist forces carried out on Thursday strikes on Syria, claiming there were in response to alleged rocket fire by Iran.
“28 Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft were used in the attack, which released around 60 air-to-ground missiles over various parts of Syria. Israel also fired more than 10 tactical ground-to-ground missiles,” the ministry said in a statement, quoted by Interfax news agency.
Russia said Syria’s air defense systems shot down more than half of the missiles, while the extent of the damage was still being assessed.
“The locations of Iranian armed groups and also the positions of the Syrian army’s air defences in the area around Damascus and in the south of Syria were attacked,” the ministry said.
The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the meeting Putin also expressed “deep concern” over US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from a key 2015 Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday, a decision Netanyahu supported.
On Wednesday the Russian leader called the situation in the Middle East “unfortunately very acute”.
Source: AFP
