Russia is continuing to supply “defensive” weapons to Syria, the head of the state arms exporter said on Wednesday.
“We are continuing to fulfil our contract obligations because Syria is
not under any sanctions of the United Nations Security Council,” Anatoly
Isaikin, Director of Rosoboronexport, told a press conference in
Moscow.
Mr. Isaikin denied reports that Russia had supplied high precision
ground-to-ground missiles Iskander to Syria or any other offensive
weapons.
“We are mostly shipping air defence systems and repair equipment for various branches of the military,” he said.
Russia has recently shipped to Syria Bastion anti-ship missile system
armed with supersonic Yakhont cruise missiles (forerunner of the
Indo-Russian BrahMos), as well as Pantsyr-S1 and Buk-M2 air defence
systems.
The official said Russia has not sent any combat planes or helicopters
to Syria, but acknowledged that his company had a yet-to-be-honoured
contract for the supply of Yak-130 jet trainers, which can also be used
as combat aircraft.
The Rosoboronexport chief said more defence deliveries are in the
pipeline under existing contracts with Syria as this does not contravene
international law or U.N. Security Council resolutions.
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