Israeli strikes on targets in Syria last week took out several Russian missile defense systems and raised questions about the viability of Moscow’s military equipment.

Israeli fighter jets had targeted Iranian bases in retaliation for Iranian strikes on the Golan Heights, and they also hit Russian missile defense equipment during the strike. The Russian missile defense system that was hit combines surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery. But Israel’s military released videos of the strikes showing the Russian-made defense systems getting hit by the Israeli missiles.

Speaking to Russian television on Friday, Aytech Bizhev, a former Russian Air Force deputy commander-in-chief, defended the system by alleging that it was either out of ammunition or was disabled. He argued that the missile defense system would never have been hit if it were working properly.

“When it’s battle ready, it performs constant surveillance of enemy aircraft and has a very fast reaction time. It would’ve brought down those cruise missiles with either its cannons or own missiles,” he told RT.

 

Source :  www.newsweek.com