Russia to supply Syria with S-300 anti-missile system

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00:18

Russia will supply an S-300 anti-missile system to Syria within two weeks, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday, a week after Moscow blamed Israel for indirectly causing the downing of a Russian military plane in Syria.

In a televised statement, the minister said the decision to "transfer the modern S-300 air defense system to the Syrian armed forces within two weeks" was taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin spoke to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a phone call for the first time since last week's downing of a Russian military plane, telling him of Moscow's plan, it added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) listens to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during the reception for graduates of military universities and institutes in Moscow, June 28, 2017. /VCG Photo

Shoigu pointed out that command posts of the Syrian air defense forces would be equipped with automatic equipment that would ensure the identification of Russian aircraft by Syrian air defenses, Sputnik reported.

Minutes after Shoigu's statement, the Kremlin said the plane downing issue will harm Russia's relations with Israel and accused Israeli pilots of acting deliberately.

"According to the information of our military experts, the reason (behind the downing) was premeditated actions by Israeli pilots, which certainly cannot but harm our relations," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

The spokesman also said the new measures decided on to boost the security of its troops in Syria "are not directed against third countries."

There was no immediate reaction from Israel, whose government offices are closed for a Jewish holiday.

(With input from agencies)