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Russia Deploys S-300 Air Defense System in Syria

Sergei Porter / Vedomosti

Russia is to deploy a S-300 air defense system in Syria, the country's Defense Ministry has confirmed.

The system will defend a Russian Navy base in the Syrian city of Tartus and Russian ships further from the coast, spokesperson Igor Konashenkov told the state-run TASS news agency.

"The S-300 is an exceptionally defensive system and poses no threat to anybody," Konashenkov said.

A Russian S-400 air defense system is already present in the country.

Russia’s military has been engaged in the Syrian conflict since 2015 and has received international criticism for airstrikes allegedly against civilian targets. 

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