Russia's response to the crash of Russian Il-20 military aircraft in Syria is not directed against third countries and seeks only to ensure the security of Russian servicemen in the Arab country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2018) Russia's response to the crash of Russian Il-20 military aircraft in Syria is not directed against third countries and seeks only to ensure the security of Russian servicemen in the Arab country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced measures on increasing security of Russian servicemen in response to the crash of Russian Il-20 military aircraft, which Russia believes Israel is responsible for. According to the minister, Russia would equip the Syrian air defense forces' command posts with automatic control systems, which had been previously possesses only by Russia, jam satellite navigation, on-board radars and communication systems of combat aviation attacking Syrian targets and, most importantly, supply S-300 air defense systems to Syria.
"It should be obvious for everyone that Russia's actions are necessary ensure the security of its servicemen. Therefore, Russia is guided exclusively by such interests in this case. These actions are not directed against third countries, they are aimed at protecting our own military," Peskov told reporters, when asked whether Russia's decision to supply S-300 systems to Syria would worsen relations with Israel.
The spokesman noted that the response to the Il-20 crash had been actively discussed at the level of military experts and the country's leadership throughout the week.
