Russian and Chinese warships sent to eastern Mediterranean

Russian sources have confirmed that the Russian heavy missile cruiser Moskva has been sent to the eastern Mediterranean. China, for its part, is sending its amphibious dock landing warship, the 19,000 metric ton Jinggangshan, a 689-foot-long warship can carry 1,000 soldiers, helicopters, armored fighting vehicles, boats and landing craft.

Moskva

Jinggangshan

Officially, the mission of the Jinggangshan is to "observe" the activities of the Russian and US navies.  According to unidentified Syrian sources, however, the Jinggangshan is carrying air defense systems.

The eastern Mediterranean is rapidly becoming a very crowded place indeed.

The Saker