Russia has begun supplying the S-300 air-defense system to Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday, despite Israeli protestations of the weapons delivery.
Lavrov was asked about the S-300s during a news conference at the United Nations and responded: “The deliveries started already.”
He added that “the measures we will take will be devoted to ensure 100 percent safety and security of our men in Syria, and we will do this.”
The announcement by Lavrov came days after Russia said it would transfer the advanced anti-aircraft battery to Syria following the downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian air defenses during an Israeli air strike on a weapons facility earlier this month.
The Russian defense ministry, which announced the planned supply Monday, had said the delivery would take place within two weeks.
Additionally, Russia said it would begin jamming radars of military planes striking targets in Syria from off the coast of the Mediterranean.
Source: Agencies
