Syria air defense very efficient: Russian source

Syria’s air defense forces are capable of intercepting any enemy aircraft and about half of the Tomahawk missiles that might violate its airspace in the event of a US war, a Russian military source says.

“The Syrian air defense system is very efficient,” the source, identified as a former air defense system commander, told Interfax and Voice of Russia.

The source added that Syrian defense system “is deeply layered and presumes the maximum use of fighter aircraft and all point and tactical air defense weapons.”

The Syrian air defense system employs the Buk anti-aircraft missile systems, which is “used to intercept cruise missiles – Syria has such weapons, and they are very efficient,” according to the source.

The former commander said that the system “is built in such a way that enemy aircraft, once they get into the country’s airspace and the air defense system’s radar field, they virtually cannot leave it.”

US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee voted on Wednesday to approve President Barack Obama administration’s plan to wage military action against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons.

The rhetoric of war against Syria first gained momentum on August 21, when the militants operating inside the Middle Eastern country and the foreign-backed Syrian opposition claimed that over a thousand people had been killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in Damascus.

Damascus categorically rejected the accusation as part of a scheme to draw in foreign military intervention.