New satellite photos have revealed that three of four new S-300 aerial defense missile launchers provided by Russia have been successfully deployed at a Syrian military base.
By Benjamin Kerstein, The Algemeiner
According to Israeli news site Walla, the company ImageSat International released an image on Tuesday showing the three launchers erected at the Masyaf base.
The ISI assessment stated, “Due to the current regional tension, and the detected erection of the launchers, it is possible that the mentioned activity indicates increase of the operational level and alertness.”
However, the ISI added that one of launchers was covered by a camouflage net, which was unusual and raised “question marks about the operation level of the whole battery, and specifically of the covered and folded launcher.”
The ISI also stated that, according to its assessment, the launchers were not yet operational.
The S-300 launchers were initially deployed in Syria in October, delivered by Russia — an ally of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has been fighting an eight-year war against insurgent groups.
Moscow’s delivery came after a Russian spy plane was accidentally shot down off the coast of Latakia in September by the Syrian military, which was responding to a nearby Israeli Air Force operation.