Responding to US National Security Adviser John Bolton's remark that the S-300's deliveries to Syria would constitute a "significant escalation" by Moscow, Ermakov stated the S-300 systems were meant for defensive purposes, and the US was fudging when saying that Russia's supplies would violate its national security. In addition, the ministry stated that those steps would lead to the stabilization, rather than escalation.

"In fact, such actions will lead to the stabilization of the region, because we will be able to close the airspace where necessary, and, first of all, our servicemen who fulfill their international duty at the invitation of the Syrian government will be protected," Ermakov said.

A number of Israeli media outlets have expressed concerns over Moscow's decision to supply Syria with S-300 air defense systems and admitted that such steps may have grave repercussions for the Israeli Air Force.

Reacting to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's announcement, Channel 9 wondered if Israel was "in for a nightmare" once the S-300 missile systems were delivered, while The Jerusalem Post emphasized that the advanced systems would become a major boost to the Syrian air defenses and would pose a threat to Israeli aircraft as the long-range anti-missile system has the capability of tracking jets and ballistic missiles over a range of 300 kilometers.

The Jerusalem Post further suggested that currently, Syrian air defenses are largely outdated Soviet-era systems as well as more sophisticated tactical systems. The author of the article, however, stressed that Moscow has already provided Damascus with a short range air defense system, Pantsir S-1.

Addressing Shoigu's statement, Haaretz published an analysis, headlined "With Russia's S-300 in Syria, Israel Will Have to Think Twice About the Next Strike," in which the author hypothesized that the new missile system would not constitute a "total barrier to airstrikes," but would definitely curb Israeli jets' freedom.

"...Jerusalem is bound to face a dilemma: Should it attack once again near the Russians and risk further exacerbating the crisis and even the downing of an Israeli plane?" the author wrote.

The daily newspaper Ynetnews appeared to share Haaretz's stance, having stressed that the delivery of the S-300s was "bad news for Israel" as it would limit the Israeli Air Force's freedom of action throughout Syria and "apparently in Lebanon."

The publication came to the conclusion that the deployment of the system would require "more effort, more planning and more caution in the use of force in the skies of Syria and Lebanon" on the part of the IAF, as the upgrade of the Syrian air defenses, including an automatic control system that would ensure the identification of Russian aircraft, would improve the speed of Syrian missile batteries.

• National Endowment for Democracy, the legal window of the CIA
• Threats to freedom: Facebook's Atlantic Council censors are more interested in tanks than thinking
• Zuckerberg op-ed leaves no doubt Facebook is little more than a vehicle to spread US propaganda

• Russia speculates space station leak could be deliberate sabotage
• America will continue to use Russian rocket engines to fly into space
• US wants to turn International Space Station over to private sector - Whatever could go wrong?
• Tensions grow as China, Russia and Iran lead the way towards a new multipolar world order

• DNC breaks silence on Keith Ellison domestic abuse allegations. Here's what it said
• Flexible standards: Democrats pick & choose sex assault abusers to believe - 'Rules for thee, not for me'
• Progressive House Democrat Keith Ellison promotes Antifa book in selfie

• Syria to get powerful Russian S-300 system - 'Steps everyone will notice'
• Russian FM Lavrov: After US-led strikes, Russia has 'no moral barriers' on S-300 deliveries to Syria
• Israel 'crossed the line' in Russian Il-20 plane crash incident - Russian Defense Ministry
• Russian MOD's full video report on IL-20 downing off Syrian coast: Israel culpable