An advanced Russian-made anti-aircraft missile exploded near a village in northern Cyprus on Monday, after it reportedly went out of control when fired by Syrian forces.
There have been no fatalities reported, but since the incident debris has been found across various Cypriot villages. A Greek Cypriot military analyst, Andreas Pentaras, claims that specific markings on the remanence of the missile suggest it was a Russian-made S-200 surface-to-air missile, having a range of up to 250 miles.
Kudret Ozersay, the Turkish Cypriot foreign minister confirmed this theory stating: “The first assessment is that a Russian-made missile, which was part of the air defence system that took place last night in the face of an airstrike against Syria, completed its range and fell into our country after it missed.”
The misfiring rocket is believed to have been launched by Assad’s forces amid waves of Israeli air strikes on Syrian targets near Damascus which was believed to be an Iranian arms depot.
