Syria: Misplaced Concern Over Possible Russian Missile Shipments

Reports that Russia has delivered S-300 air defense missile batteries to Syria have yet to be confirmed. But even if the reports are true, the missiles would have a fairly negligible impact beyond deterring possible military intervention in the future. According to The New York Times, Syrian President Bashar al Assad confirmed May 30 that Russia already had delivered some of these weapons systems and that more were on the way — so far, no one else has confirmed the delivery. However, the concern surrounding their introduction to the Syrian civil war is fairly overstated.