Russia sends S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Syria

Moscow: Russia`s defence ministry said Tuesday that it had sent an S-300 missile system to its naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus, a measure it says is meant to bolster its security.

"The S-300 anti-aircraft missile system has indeed been sent to the Syrian Arab Republic," defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. 

"I remind you that the S-300 is a purely defensive system and poses no threat to anyone."

"It`s not clear why the placement of S-300 in Syria has caused such a stir among our western colleagues," he said.

The announcement comes as talks on reviving a failed ceasefire were suspended by Washington over Moscow`s support of the regime in Damascus. 

Moscow has been accused of indiscriminately bombing Aleppo`s opposition-controlled east as it helps an offensive currently being conducted by Syrian regime forces to capture all of the country`s second city.

Russia has also denied that its strikes have hit hospitals and other civilian facilities in spite of reports to the contrary. 

In addition to operating a naval facility in Tartus, Russia runs an air base outside the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, which currently houses war planes used in Moscow`s bombing campaign in support of long-time ally Bashar al-Assad.

A senior Russian official said in August that Russia was planning to expand its Hmeimim air base in Syria into a permanent military facility.

The Hmeimim air base already has an S-400 air defence system, the most modern in Russia`s arsenal.