Israeli minister: Israel could destroy S-300 in Syria

Israeli Minister Zev Elkin has warned that Russian S-300 anti-aircraft systems could be targeted, even if it puts Russian military experts at risk, in case the Syrians use the advanced missiles recently supplied to them by Russia.

The Minister of Ecology, who is also the co-chairman of the Russian-Israeli intergovernmental commission, told the Russian media that the supply of these rockets was a big mistake because they could lead to "destabilization of the situation".

He explained that, "given the chaos" in which the Syrian army is, the Syrians cannot be trusted to use the equipment properly and that it could end with the downing of "an Israeli military or commercial plane over Israeli territory."

"I very much hope that there will be no Russian military experts (at the site of the missile launch)," Elkin said, adding that Israel had previously made every effort not to injure Russian soldiers during operations in Syria.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in the neighboring country, mostly targeting weapons convoys allegedly destined for Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian positions.

Iran and Shiite Hezbollah, as well as Russia, are fighting on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war.

Moscow delivered S-300 missiles to Syria after a Russian plane was shot down by a Syrian missile during an Israeli attack.

Russia accused Israel of shooting down the plane, which killed 15 Russian soldiers, claiming that the Israeli plane was using a Russian IL-20 as a shield, which is the Israeli side of origin.

Although satellite images show advanced missiles deployed in Syria, Israeli officials believe they are not yet operational.

Elkin's warning came after Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently rejected Moscow's alleged request that Israel give additional warning to the Russian military before carrying out airstrikes in Syria. Israel usually informs Russia a few minutes before an attack, according to Israeli media.

Israeli leaders have announced the continuation of attacks in Syria despite tensions with Russia over the downing of the plane.

Since the plane was shot down on September 17, not a single airstrike on Syria has been attributed to Israel, although Israeli officials claim that these attacks have not stopped.