Pentagon: Russian S-300 air defense systems in Syria pose a danger to US aircraft

The deployment of Russian S-300 air defense systems in Syria can be a danger to U.S. military aircraft, depending on the use of these weapons, Defense Ministry spokesman, Peter Cook, said at a briefing in Washington.

According to the Pentagon’s representative, the U.S. military does not know why Moscow sent an anti-aircraft missile system to the Arab Republic, The Washington Post writes. Russia initially cited the fight against extremism as its purpose, however neither the Islamic State nor the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda possess the aircraft that the S-300 system is able to counter, Cook noted.

He added that the United States is



still ready to take measures to ensure the safety of its military involved in the fight against terrorists in Syria, stressing that Pentagon officials have the right to self-defense.

On Tuesday, Fox News reported, citing three unnamed sources in Washington, that the Russian Federation had deployed the latest S-300VM air defense systems in Syria. Afterwards, the information was confirmed by the Defense Ministry official spokesman, Igor Konashenkov.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the United States believes that Russia’s transfer of the S-300 is contrary to the objectives stated by the Kremlin regarding the operation in Syria.