The minister said the Israeli
s in Latakia on September 17 were "aimed to prolong the Syrian conflict" and "undermine success in the liberation of Syria, achieved by the government army assisted by its allies".Muallem, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said that in rebuffing the attack on Latakia, Syrian air defense weapons had brought down more than two thirds of Israeli missiles. "Our anti-aircraft gunners showed that they are capable of defending Syria against the Israeli aggression," he stressed.
A Russian electronic surveillance Il-20 plane was downed over the Mediterranean Sea late on September 17 when it was flying back to the Russian airbase at Syria’s Hmeymim.
According to the Russian defense ministry, the plane was shot down by a missile from a Syrian S-200 air defense complex when it was firing at four Israeli F-16 aircraft attacking targets in the Latakia governorate. The Israeli pilots actually used the Russian plane as a cover exposing it to Syrian missiles, the ministry stressed. Fifteen Russian servicemen who were onboard the plane were killed.
Following the incident, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on September 24 that Russia planned to supply S-300 missile defense systems to the Syrian army within two weeks
The S-300 is an air defense missile system able to eliminate advanced aircraft, including planes using stealth technology, medium-range ballistic missiles, tactical and cruise missiles, and also airborne early warning and control (AWACS/AEW&C) aircraft and reconnaissance and strike systems.