Russia Sends Advanced Air Defences To Syria

Reuters: Russia sending advanced air defences to Syria: sources

Moscow is sending an advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Syria, two Western officials and a Russian source said, as part of what the West believes is stepped-up military support for embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

The Western officials said the SA-22 system would be operated by Russian troops, rather than Syrians. It was on its way to Syria but had not yet arrived.

"This system is the advanced version used by Russia and it's meant to be operated by Russians in Syria," said one of the sources, a Western diplomat who is regularly briefed on U.S., Israeli and other intelligence assessments.

A U.S. official separately confirmed the information.

WNU Editor: Putting these air defense systems in Syria is Russia's way of sending a message to the U.S., Israel, Turkey, and Arab coalition allies to be very careful in their air operations. This should raise a few alarm bells .... in the above video Ret. General Allen acknowledges that a situation could arise where coalition forces could be facing a confrontation with Russian military forces in Syria (at the 2:55 mark in the video).

More News On Russia's Military Support To Syria

Russia Gets Involved in Syria -- AP
More Russian aid for Assad as Syrian air base falls to jihadists -- AFP
Report: Russians 'are directing air operations and issuing instructions' at Syria's main airport -- NOW Lebanon
Russia to continue weapons supplies to Syria for combating terrorism — FM -- ITAR-TASS
Russia to continue to supply arms to Syria's Assad -- Al Jazeera
Russia to Continue Delivering Military Equipment to Syria -- Sputnik
Russia intensifies naval exercises off Syrian coast - sources -- The Star/Reuters
Russia’s Military Drills in Mediterranean Comply With International Norms -- Sputnik
Russia tells Washington: talk to us over Syria or risk "unintended incidents" -- Reuters
Russia urges world leaders to arm Syrian government to counter IS -- AP
Are the Russian troops reportedly being sent to Syria from the same brigade that helped annex Crimea? -- Business Insider
Russia backs Syria’s fight against ISIS, not Assad’s regime – Lavrov -- RT
Pushing The Envelope: Russia Seeks Gold In Syria Quagmire -- Steve Gutterman, Radio Free Europe
Podcast: Putin's Road To Damascus -- Radio Free Europe
Vladimir Putin’s plan to divide and rule in Syria amid crisis -- Roger Boyes, The Australian/The Times