After Moscow's announcement of the delivery of the surface-to-air missile system, the French Foreign Minister said that the deployment of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft defense system in Syria risks fueling military escalation and hindering prospects for a political solution to the seven-year conflict.
Russia has accused Israel of being indirectly responsible for the shooting down of a Russian aircraft by Syrian forces as Syrian forces fired attacking Israeli jets.
Agnes von Der Muhll, spokesperson for the Foreign Minister, said during an online briefing that “France notes with concern the delivery by Russia of sophisticated anti-aircraft capabilities for the benefit of the Syrian regime. Amid the regional tensions, the supply of such equipment by Russia helps to maintain the risk of a military escalation and to remove the prospect of a political solution to the Syrian crisis ”.