Syria claims Russia has started delivering S300 missiles
Syria's president has made an incendiary claim that Russia has begun delivery of a sophisticated missile system that has been described as a "game-changer" in the conflict.
Syrian rebels would like to acquire more surdace-to-air missiles but Western government fear such weapons falling into the hands of jihadists.
By Damien McElroy and agencies
10:18AM BST 30 May 2013
The Syrian president has told Lebanon's Hizbollah-owned TV station that Damascus received the first shipment of S300 Russian air defence missiles.
Al-Manar said in a statement that when asked about the promised delivery of the S-300 surface-to-air missiles, Assad replied: "All the agreements with Russia will be honoured and some already have been recently."
Assad's comment on the arrival of the long-range S-300s in Syria will further ratchet up tensions in the region and undermine efforts to hold UN-sponsored talks with Syria's warring sides.
Col Zvika Haimovich of Israel's air defence corps was separately quoted yesterday as saying that Syria's air defences were undergoing continuous upgrade even as the conflict rages.
"We are looking at all aspects, from the performance of the weaponry to the way the Syrians are using it. They have used everything that I am aware exists in their missile and rocket arsenal. They are improving all the time, and so are we, but we need to study this, and to be prepared," he said.
Israel's defence chief, Moshe Yaalon, said earlier this week that Russia's plan to supply Syria with the weapons is a threat and that Israel was prepared to use force to stop the delivery.
On Monday, the European Union lifted an arms embargo on Syria, paving way for individual countries of the 27-member bloc to send weapons to rebels fighting to topple Assad's regime. The move raised fears of an arms race in the Middle East.
Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Syria in recent months that are believed to have destroyed weapons shipments bound for Hizbollah. It is not clear whether Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace in these attacks.
But with the Russian missiles in Syria's possession, the Israeli air force's ability to act could be limited.
Israel has lobbied Moscow over the planned sale of S-300 air-defence missiles to Syria but on Tuesday, Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said his government remained committed to the deal.
The S-300s have a range of up to 125 miles and the capability to track and strike multiple targets simultaneously. Syria already possesses Russian-made air defences, and Israel is believed to have used long-distance bombs fired from Israeli or Lebanese airspace. The S-300s would expand Syria's capabilities, allowing it to counter airstrikes launched from foreign airspace as well.
Monday's decision by the EU paved the way for individual countries to send weapons to Assad's outgunned opponents. The EU's move may have little impact on the conflict since no single European country is expected to send lethal weapons to the rebels anytime soon.
Britain and France, the main military powers in the EU, had pushed for lifting the embargo. They have argued that Europe's threat of arming the rebels in the future would force Assad to negotiate in good faith.
Russia, an Assad ally, harshly criticised Europe's decision to allow the arming of Syrian rebels, saying it undercuts international efforts to bring the opposing sides in Syrian conflict together for a peace conference.
