Syria and Russia hold negotiations about new arms shipments
Syria and Russia are holding negotiations about new shipments of arms, including anti-air defense weapons. Damascus is interested in latest generation systems, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“Yes, this always happens before war and during it. Of course, we need more weapons after the war and on account of expending them, this is a part of everyday relations between the Defense Ministries of Russia and Syria,” he said, when asked whether concrete negotiations were taking place with Russia regarding the purchase of new anti-air defense systems.
He also clarified that Damascus is interested in latest-generation anti-air systems.
“Usually we always show interest in the latest generation of any system, but this depends on their availability, the policy of the supplier – in this case Russia, and the price. There are many criteria, and of course, it depends on the technical characteristics we need, which could suit our type of war, our army, our terrain. There are many other criteria pertaining to anti-air defense,” he stated.
Bashar al-Assad noted that at present more than 50% of Syria’s anti-air defense has been destroyed. This is why Syria was unable to shoot down the American missiles during the strike on the Shayrat airbase.
“Only a few people know that at the very beginning of their activity, the terrorists started by destroying Syria’s anti-air defense… Most of the anti-air defense objects are outside city limits, on the outskirts. They started attacking the anti-air defense, and the system suffered severely during the crisis. Thus there are many factors which can influence the downing of such missiles,” Assad resumed.
At the same time, Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defense committee in the Russian Federation Council, said that Russia could prioritize sending the necessary amounts of anti-air systems to Syria, if such an agreement is reached.
According to Ozerov, the prioritized provision of anti-air defense to Syria “does not necessitate an additional burden on the defense industry”. He also added that there is “nothing extraordinary” about these shipments, because Syria is “in a state of war against terrorists” and “Russia is helping it in the fight against terrorism”. Ozerov also gave his assurance that the shipments of Russian weapons to Syria “will not violate the norms of international law or of the UN Security Council,” because the anti-aircraft defense systems are not “offensive”, but “defensive weapons”.
Igor Konashenkov, official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, stated previously that the department “will soon take measures to strengthen the Syrian army’s anti-air defense systems”. According to Konashenkov, they are intended to protect the “most sensitive objects of Syrian infrastructure”.
Konashenkov stated earlier that there are effective S-200 “Buk” surface-to-air missile system and other systems for the Syrian army’s weaponry.
In 2015, Syria acquired the latest S-400 surface-to-air missile system, and in 2016, Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile batteries were transferred to Tartus.
According to Konashenkov, the Russian anti-air defense system in Syria is organized on the principle of site-specific cover: the Russian S-400 and Pantsir anti-air missile systems cover the Russian aviation group at the Khmeimim air base and another S-300 and Pantsir anti-air group deployed in Syria protects the Russian Naval logistics supply point in Tartus.