Russia deploys S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in Syria

[MikeWB]

This is big... everyone fears these things. They can even track & target stealth planes. You can close whole country's airspace with those things.


http://ahtribune.com/world/north-africa-south-west-asia/80-russia-employs-s-300-aircraft-missile-system-in-syria.html
Russia employs S-300 aircraft missile system in Syria



Colonel General Viktor Bondarev explained in an interview with the daily Komsomolskaya Pravda that the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system has been deployed in Syria to safeguard Russian fighter jets from any possible threat.

Neither the type nor amount of anti-aircraft missiles sent was specified. However, Bondarev did specify that more than 50 planes and helicopters were deployed "for support actions" of the Syrian government army. Furthermore, the Commander explained that US intelligence remains unaware of the transportation operation, refusing however to go into further details.

The anti-aircraft missile system allows Russia to safeguard its jets involved in the airstrikes against militant opposition groups in Syria.

"We have considered all the possible threats." Bondarev explained, "We have deployed not only fighter jets, attack aircraft, bombers and helicopters, but also surface-to-air missile systems"

Bondarev clearly specified that every airstrike is video-recorded by objective control means for the purpose of instant refutation in case of any accusation of Russian jets bombing civilian targets, as Reuters reported him saying, clarifying afterwards that Russian Defense Ministry has been releasing videos of its airstrikes in Syria on a daily basis, "something the US Air Force, also operating in Syria, never does."

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He also argued that every move the terrorists are taking is acting against their interest; explaining further that the intensity of Russian airstrikes against these militant groups is forcing them to abandon their installations and checkpoints.

Ever since the end of September this year Russia's involvement in the Syrian crisis has remarkably increased. Russia has been intensely employing both its diplomatic and military efforts to bring the Syrian crisis to an end. After the course of Vienna talks last week Russia had been actively cooperating with the moderate Syrian opposition, negotiating with its Turkish as well as American counterpart, and is increasing its military presence on Syrian lands.   

Negotiations with the Turkish counterpart is specifically important due to the active role Turkey has played in the Syrian crisis ever since its eruption. Turkey is a member of the US-led coalition and Western military alliance NATO. Furthermore, it had warned Russia twice last month of violating Turkish airspace while conducting military strikes in Syria. However, last week it carried out airstrikes itself against ISIS in Syria.   

CBS news reported that earlier this week Russian deputy foreign minister declared Moscow's intentions of bringing Syrian government officials with Syrian opposition together in a round of talks next week, stating that the government has agreed to participate, but that it remains unclear which opposition group will attend the negotiations. 

The defense missile-system had been employed days after the Russian airplane crash in the Sinai Peninsula, which had been adopted by ISIS-affiliated military group, but which continues to be under investigation. The possibility of ISIS being behind the crash was highly doubted and even dismissed at first given the difficulty of undertaking such developed operation. However, the option is being reconsidered again according to a CNN report yesterday quoting U.S. intelligence as saying that a bomb might have potentially been implanted in the Russian airplane causing an explosion.