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Satellite Shows Four S-300 Missile Launchers Erected In Syrian's Masayf
[Jerusalem Post] Satellite images released by Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat Intl (ISI) on Sunday show the complete deployment of all four Russian-made S-300 missile defense systems in Syria’s Masyaf province.In February, satellite images released by the Israeli satellite company showed three out of the four systems had been erected with one launcher observed covered by a camouflage net. The camouflaging of the fourth launcher "is rare and raises question marks about the operational level of the whole battery and specifically of the covered and folded launcher," ISI said at the time. Russia delivered the launcher, radar and command-and-control vehicle of the advanced air-to-surface missile system to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad in early October as a response to the downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian air defenses during an Israeli airstrike on Iranian targets the previous month. Moscow said it would also impose electronic countermeasures over Syria’s coastline to suppress satellite navigation, onboard radar systems and communications of warplanes attacking targets on Syrian territory. The incident led to one of the lowest points in the relationship between Jerusalem and Moscow in years. With the help of the Russians, Iranians and Hezbollah, Assad has regained control over the majority of Syria and is rebuilding his army, focusing first on intelligence and air defense divisions which could pose a threat to Israeli aircraft. Israel has been carrying out airstrikes in the war-torn country against Hezbollah and Iranian targets and has stressed that it will continue to operate when necessary. In April, an airstrike blamed on Israel completely destroyed a possible Iranian surface-to-surface missile factory in Syria’s Masyaf. The possible surface-to-surface missile factory included a main hangar measuring 60x25 meters and several big industrial hangars and buildings which probably serve for production and assembly of missiles. Posted by: Besoeker 2019-07-01 |
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