Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Photo: wiki commons.

JNS.org – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Thursday that Syria “has received the first shipment of Russian anti-aircraft S-300 rockets,” the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported.

“The rest of the shipment will arrive soon,” Assad reportedly said.

Israel fears that Syria’s receipt of S-300 surface-to-air missiles could be a regional game changer, especially if they fall into the hands of terrorist groups like Hezbollah. Earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Israel “will know what to do” if S-300s reach Syria.