Russia deployed its S-400 air-defense missile system in Syria on Thursday, the state-run TAAS news agency reported.

“In accordance with the decision of Russia’s supreme commander-in-chief, an air defense complex S-400 has been promptly delivered to the Russian air base in Hmeimim in Syria,” the news agency quoted Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

“It has been deployed and entered combat duty to provide air defense for the area,” he added.