Russian missile shipment ‘arrives in Syria’

Syria has already received a shipment of Russian air defence missiles, President Bashar al-Assad has claimed.

A Lebanese television station said Mr Assad made the comment during an interview set to be broadcast today.

Russia vowed to go ahead with sending the weapons after a European Union decision not to renew an arms embargo on Syria.

Mr Assad is also reported to have told Hezbollah-linked Al Manar TV that the tide of the war is turning. “Syria has received the first shipment of Russian anti-aircraft S-300 rockets,” Al Manar quoted Mr Assad as saying. “The rest of the shipment will arrive soon.”

He is also quoted saying: “The Syrian army has scored major victories against armed rebels ... and the balance of power is now with the Syrian army.”

Today the military chief of the rebel Free Syrian Army accused Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah of “invading” Syria, with Iranian backing.

Gen Selim Idriss, in a BBC interview, claimed more than 7,000 Hezbollah fighters were taking part in attacks on the rebel-held town of Qusair. Meanwhile, Britain urged the UN to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria in March and April.

The UK’s permanent representative at the UN, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, wrote to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to alert him to three alleged attacks by Mr Assad’s regime. A Western diplomat said the letter related to reported attacks in Adra on March 24, Darayya on April 29 and Saraqib on April 29.

Earlier this week, EU foreign ministers lifted the embargo on supplying arms to Syrian opposition forces.