Russia’s arms trade chief: Moscow to sell fighter jets, air defense systems and armor to Syria

Russia to sell jets, air defense systems to Syria

MOSCOW — The head of Russia’s arms-trading agency says the nation has signed contracts to deliver fighter jets, air defense systems and armored vehicles to Syria.

Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation chief Mikhail Dmitriyev said Russia will sell MiG-29 fighter jets, Pantsyr short-range air defense systems and armored vehicles. He didn’t give any numbers or provide any further details.

The statement late Friday carried by Russian news agencies confirmed earlier media reports that worried Israel.

Previous Russian sales of advanced anti-tank missiles and other weapons to Syria have irked Israel, which said that some landed in the hands of the militant group Hezbollah.