Russia is training Syrian military officers on anti-aircraft missile systems but not yet on the advanced S-300 system, Interfax reported Wednesday, citing an unidentified Russian military official.
Russia has said it will resist pressure to scrap a contract to sell Damascus S-300s, which Western governments say could prolong Syria's civil war, but President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that S-300 missiles had not yet been sent to Syria.
Syrian officers are among about 250 foreigners from 19 countries being trained by a Russian military academy that is responsible for air defense weapons, Interfax quoted an unidentified official as saying.
He said most of the Syrian officers had arrived before the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011.
(Reuters)
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