An Israeli imagery firm has released pictures that show the S-300 air-defense batteries in Syria appear to be operational, indicating a possible threat towards Israel as it combats Iranian forces.
ImageSat International “revealed on Tuesday that three of the four launchers of the S-300 system at the Masyaf base were raised, as evident by the shadows they cast on the ground next to them,” reported The Times of Israel. “This was the first time that the launchers were photographed in a raised position, though not necessarily the first time they had been put in position, the company said.”
Several weeks ago, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign-policy committee, Heshmatollah Falahat-Pisheh, expressed “anger” towards Russia for not activating the S-300 air-defense system, which was deployed in Syria last September, during an Israeli retaliation around then near Damascus.
The United States warned Russia in October after it delivered the defense system.
Without specifying how the United States would respond to the transfer, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that “having the Russians deliver the S-300 into Syria presents greater risk to those in the affected areas and to stability in the Middle East. We consider this a very serious escalation.”
