Russia to arm Syria with surface-to-air missile system

Updated 5.55pm
Russia announced on Monday it will supply an S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria in two weeks despite strong Israeli objections, a week after Moscow blamed Israel for indirectly causing the downing of a Russian military plane in Syria.
The White House said it hoped Russia would reconsider the move, which US National Security Advisor John Bolton called a "significant escalation" of the seven-year war.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had in the past obliged Israel by refraining to supply Syria with the system. But last week's crash, which killed 15 Russian service members, had forced Russia to take "adequate retaliatory measures" to keep its troops safe.
"A modern S-300 air defence missile system will be transferred to the Syrian armed forces within two weeks," he said. The system will "significantly increase the Syrian army's combat capabilities," he said.
President Vladimir Putin discussed the decision by phone on Monday with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Kremlin said.
Russia, which fights in Syria to support the government, has said Syria shot the IL-20 surveillance plane down by mistake shortly after Israeli jets hit...

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