Report: Israel Asked Russia Not to Give S-300 Missile Defense System to Syria

Ynetnews reports: Israel has asked Moscow not to supply the Syrian military with advanced S-300 missile systems, according to a Russian diplomat. An Israeli government spokesman declined comment on the claim that was made by the Russian diplomat on condition on anonymity.

Israel has made repeated efforts to persuade Moscow not to sell the system to Syria, as it fears this would hinder its aerial capabilities against arms shipments to Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah. Israel has carried out scores of air strikes against suspected shipments.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Russia had not yet decided whether it would deliver the S-300 missile systems to Syria, but would not make a secret of the matter if it took such a decision, the TASS news agency reported.

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