Russia has started delivering S-300 missiles to Syria

Russia has started delivering S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syrian forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations (UN) on Friday that "the delivery started already" after a decision was reached following downing of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft which was hit by a Syrian missile.

Moscow said Israel was culpable as the Il-20 was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighter jets attacked targets in northwestern Syria.The Israeli military said that Syria's indiscriminate air defence fire was the cause of the incident.

"As President [Vladimir] Putin said, after that incident ... the measures that we will take will be devoted to ensuring 100 percent safety and security of our men," said Lavrov.