S-400 systems. FILE IMAGE: Alexey Malgavko / Sputnik
The Russian military is planning to deploy an S-400 long-range air-defense system in Syria’s northeastern region which is mostly controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), several Syrian and Russian sources reported on November 3.
The advanced air-defense system will allegedly be deployed at al-Qamishli Airport which is located right on the border with Turkey.
The S-400 system can detect airborne targets more than 600 kilometers away and fire a variety of anti-aircraft missiles with ranges from 40 up to 400 km.
Click to see full-size image.
A number of Syrian and Russian Pantsir-S short-range air-defense systems and radars are known to be deployed at al-Qamishli Airport.
Around a week ago, the Russian Aerospace Forces deployed several warplanes in the airport. The warplanes took part in a series of joint drills with the Syrian Arab Army in northern and northeastern Syria.
Russia already has two S-400 systems deployed in Syria, one at Hmeimim Air Base in Southern Lattakia and another at a large air defense base in western Hama.
If true, the Russian plan to deploy an S-400 system in northeastern Syria is clearly a message to Turkey who has been preparing to launch a new operation in the region against the SDF. Moscow and Damascus oppose such an operation as it would further destabilize the region.
