Commander of the Russian Air Force said on Thursday that Moscow has sent missile systems to Syria to protect its forces stationed in the area.

Commander of the Russian Air Force said on Thursday that Moscow has sent missile systems to Syria to protect its forces stationed in the area.

Colonel General Victor Bondarev stated that the fighter jets may be hijacked in a neighboring country of Syria and be used to attack the Russian forces.

"We considered every possible threat. We have not only sent fighter jets, bombers and helicopters only, but missile systems as well," Bondarev told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.

Russia has launched a massive military campaign in Syria since more than a month that aims to eliminate all terrorist groups operating against the Syrian national army.