Exclusive: The Russian S-300 missiles in Syria are NOT operational

DEBKAfile’s special military sources totally refute reports from unauthorized Israeli and Hizballah sources claiming that the Russian S-300 air defense missiles delivered to Syria are operational, including batteries installed outside the north Syrian town of Masyaf. DEBKAfile’s sources stress that the details in those reports are incorrect and none of the S-300s in Syria are ready for operation. Nor are there signs that they will be any time soon. Our sources also absolutely deny as unfounded the reports put out by the same unauthorized quarters of a flare-up of fighting in Syria between Russians and Iranian militias. There are no such battles.