Source : Strategic-Culture.org
The decision to ship S-300 missile complexes to Syria is not linked to Israel's airstrikes on Syrian territory and was made long before the attacks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"Initially missile defense systems are delivered to protect the county that buys them from airstrikes. But these contracts were signed long before airstrikes on Syria were launched last year and now," Lavrov said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV channel.
Moscow is fulfilling previous agreements on missile defense means and have not signed any new contract with Damascus, he said.
"Those who do not plan aggressive actions against a sovereign state have nothing to worry about, because air defense means - and it comes clear from the name - are a purely defensive system required to repel air attacks," Lavrov said.
"We do not violate any laws, and we do not want to loose the image of a secure supplier," he said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concerns over reports about Israel's airstrikes at facilities in Damascus suburbs on May 3 and May 5. Syrian authorities in particular reported that Israel attacked an R&D center in Damascus suburbs on May 5.
Israel has neither confirmed nor refuted the airstrikes reports. According Israeli media, the airstrikes targeted not the R&D center but Iranian missiles that were transferred from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syrian territory.
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