As a symbol of its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia has sent his government advanced cruise missiles. This isn’t the first time Russia has sent missiles to the embattled country, but this latest shipment is much more sophisticated—capable of being used to ward off international ships that might try to deliver supplies to rebel fighters. “It enables the regime to deter forces looking to supply the opposition from the sea, or from undertaking a more active role if a no-fly zone or shipping embargo were to be declared at some point,” said Nick Brown, editor in chief of the military technology magazine IHS Jane’s International Defense Review. “It’s a real ship killer.”
