Putin agrees with proposal to deploy S-400 missile systems at Syrian air base

NIZHNY TAGIL, November 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed with a proposal by the Defense Ministry to deploy the advanced S-400 air defense missile systems at the Khmeimim air base in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "The Defense Ministry has proposed deploying S-400 missile systems. The president has agreed," the Kremlin spokesman said. As Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said, "by decision of the supreme commander-in-chief, the S-400 antiaircraft missile system will be moved to the Khmeimim aerodrome in Syria to ensure air defense in all directions." Russia’s Su-24M bomber was shot down on Tuesday by an air-to-air missile fired by an F-16 fighter jet of the Turkish Air Force. One pilot was killed while the other was rescued and taken to the Russian air base. During the operation to rescue the pilot, a Mi-8 helicopter was damaged by gunfire and a soldier was killed. Turkey claims that the downed Russian combat plane violated Turkey’s air space. However, the Russian Defense Ministry has said that the Su-24M flew over Syria while the air space was violated by the Turkish plane that attacked Russia’s bomber. The Russian General Staff has warned that Russia will destroy all potentially dangerous targets over Syria and announced about the plans to move the missile cruiser Moskva with the Fort missile system equivalent to the S-300 antiaircraft missile complex to the Syrian coast. Read more