Assad says Syria received Russian missile shipment: Al-Akhbar
Syria has received the first shipment of an air defence system from Russia, President Bashar al-Assad was quoted as saying, sending a signal of military strength days before an EU arms embargo on the war-torn country lapses. - "Syria has received the first shipment of Russian anti-aircraft S-300 rockets," Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Assad as saying in an interview due to be broadcast later on Thursday. More of the missiles would arrive soon, he was quoted as saying. Russia has said it would deliver the missile system to the Syrian government over Western objections, saying the move would help stabilize the regional balance. A staunch ally of the Assad government, Moscow has appeared to grow more defiant since the European Union let its arms embargo on Syria expire, opening up the possibility of the West arming the rebels battling to topple the president. The embargo lapses on June 1.
Reuters: Assad says Syria received Russian missile shipment: Lebanese media
PressTV: Syria already in possession of Russia's S-300 system: President Assad
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