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Russia denies Israeli reports on boosting Syrian air defence

September 26, 2018 at 5:54 am

Russia’s Kremlin yesterday denied recent Israeli media reports on an alleged phone call between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, last Sunday to discuss Moscow’s plans to boost the Syrian air defence capabilities.

“The Israeli reports are not true,” the Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.

On Monday, The Russian defence ministry announced that it would deliver advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to the Syrian army within two weeks “to increase the security of Russian servicemen stationed in the country.”

Read: Will Russia swallow Israel’s insult?

The ministry’s announcement came after a Russian military aircraft was downed in Syria last week. Russia held Israel responsible for the attack and said that its relations with the Jewish state were “damaged.” Israeli denies the accusations.

Israeli media noted that the two leaders’ phone conversation was made a day before the Russian defence ministry’s announcement.