Why Did Russia Send ‘The Terminator’ on a Humanitarian Mission in Syria?

Duel Purpose

Russia’s Defense Ministry says the aircraft was returning from a ‘humanitarian cargo’ mission. If so, it was a strange model to use.

Contributing Editor

Published Aug. 1 2016 5:30PM EDT

articles/2016/08/01/why-did-russia-send-the-terminator-on-a-humanitarian-mission-in-syria/160801-weiss-syria-russia-helicopter-tease_ohfc3v — Ammar Abdullah/Reuters

While we don’t yet know which rebel group shot down a Russian military helicopter in Syria today, killing all five on board, photographic and video evidence of the wreckage reveals that what Russia is presenting as a pacific tool of humanitarian aid was in fact an assault craft rigged with...