Why is Russia deploying air defense missiles in Syria?

October 06, 2016 00:52

US intelligence detected the shipment of advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles to Syria. According to Fox News, US intelligence tracked the shipment of the SA-23 Gladiator anti-ballistic missile system from Russia to the Syrian port city of Tartus.

It's the first time the SA-23 (known to NATO as the SA-12b "Giant") has been deployed outside of Russia.

Russian officials say the missiles will defend Russian bases along the Syrian coast, with one general stating that the missile system was "purely defensive."

There's only one problem -- Russia's stated enemies in Syria, the Islamic State, don't have missiles or airplanes and neither do the Syrian rebels.

Read more HERE

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