A Panstir-S1 system at Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria
Over the past years, Russia has delivered 40 short to medium range defense systems to Syria to repel aerial attacks, the Russian state-run news agency RIA reported citing a source in the Russian Defense Ministry.
The source revealed that the delivered systems had been previously used by the Russian Defense Ministry.
The Pantsir-S1 is designed to defend installations and to provide cover for long-range air defense systems. The Syrian miitary actively uses Pantsir-S1 systems to defend their airfields and other military facilities.
Click to see the full-size image
Early on April 9, the Israeli Air Force launched a missile strike on the T4 airbase in Syria, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the statement, the Syrians shot down 5 of 8 missiles, which had been launched. 3 missiles reached the western part of the airbase.
The Israeli attack came amid the escalating tensions over the alleged chemical weapons usage in Douma. The US and Israel are the two main powers actively instigating the conflict.
