IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Syria

Russia sends air defense systems

Russia has sent air defense systems to Syria to protect its forces there, Syria's state news agency SANA said on Thursday, citing a Russian official. The defense systems are deployed in Syria to protect Russia's war jets operating there and to respond to other emergency situations, SANA said. Russia started airstrikes on militant groups' posts in Syria on Sept 30, a move hailed by Syrian government officials as "an efficient step" in its war against terrorism.