Russia has stepped up its military presence in Syria by sending an anti-missile system to the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.
The weapon system — called the SA-23 — arrived on Syrian soil in Tartus over the weekend at a Russian naval base, according to Fox News. Fox cites an official who said this marks the first time Russia has deployed the advanced weapon outside of its borders.
The weapon's range is about 150 miles. Officials told Fox the weapon has not yet been assembled and is still sitting in its shipping crate.
The weapon, according to Fox, might be used against U.S. cruise missile attacks on Syria.
Last fall after a Turkish military jet downed a Russian warplane in Turkish airspace, Russia deployed an S-400 air defense system to Syria to supplement its military actions there.
Russia has been conducting military operations on targets within Syria since last September. The U.S. and Syria suspended diplomatic contacts Monday regarding their actions in Syria. Russia, the U.S. government said, did not follow the terms of a cease-fire agreement that was signed last month.
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