Report: Russia sends advanced anti-ship missiles to Syria

The latest arms shipment comes as Russia is facing criticism
over plans to send the Syria regime S-300 surface-to-air missiles.

{mosads}Israel has expressed concerns over the Syrians obtaining the
S-300s, and Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu met with
Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin this week.

Secretary of State John Kerry has also expressed opposition
to Russia providing arms to Assad’s regime.

“I think we have made it crystal clear that we would prefer
that Russia is not supplying assistance,” Kerry said last week.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that Russia’s
arms sales were not violating any international agreements, according to Agence
France-Presse.

“We are first and foremost supplying defense weapons
related to air defense,” Lavrov said in televised comments. “This
does not in any way alter the balance of forces in this region or give any
advantage in the fight against the opposition.”

Russia has been among Assad’s biggest backers, and has blocked action in Syria from the United Nations Security Council. Russia and the United States have agreed to try to convene peace talks between the Syrian regime and opposition next month.