Between 2011 and 2013, Western governments reacted very differently to two separate attempts at the internal regime change of a potential adversary. Rapid Western intervention in Libya has contrasted with the approach to the Syrian conflict. Although the reasons behind these different approaches are numerous and complex, the primary difference in military terms is that Syria possesses advanced missile systems that are unavailable to Libya. This situation illustrates the strategic and operational impact that the proliferation of advanced air defence and cruise missile technology can have. Indeed, the danger that proliferation of advanced missile systems can pose has been highlighted before, perhaps most notably with the use of an advanced anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) by Lebanese militant group Hizbullah against the Israeli frigate INS Hanit in July 2006. These incidents underscore the fact that proliferation efforts, which were previously focused primarily on ballistic missiles, now include the supply of advanced air defence systems and cruise missiles.
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