A convoy consisting of Russian military and cargo ships sent necessary supplies to the coastal facilities in Syria at Tartus last week. This operation is the first mission since the agreement between Damascus and Moscow last month regarding the future of Russia's military presence in the country.
Agreement Between Moscow and Damascus
According to this agreement, Russian forces will remain at their bases in Syria. Moscow uses the Hmeimim and Tartus bases to expand its influence in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Africa. Tartus is the only Russian naval repair and supply base in the Mediterranean.
In recent months, Russia has been supplying these two bases, but last week's operation was the first since the announcement of the agreement on August 9.
Details of the Convoy and Cargo
The convoy, consisting of four ships including the Russian cargo ship "Sparta" and the naval refueling ship "Akademik Pashin," arrived at the port of Tartus on September 7. Verified satellite images show that these two ships docked at the port of Tartus on September 8.
A Syrian military source and a Russian-Syrian businessman familiar with the details of the operation stated that the ship "Sparta" unloaded cargo including ammunition for the Hmeimim and Tartus bases. However, independent verification of the cargo's contents and its final destination was not possible.
The maritime intelligence company "Sinmax" identified the fourth ship of the convoy as the "Admiral Luchenkov," a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer. Additionally, the ship "General Skobylov" remained near the coast.
The Syrian Ports and Customs Authority and the Russian Embassy in Damascus did not respond to requests for comment. The ships immediately stopped transmitting their signals after passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and heading towards the Mediterranean. The entire group of ships was tracked via satellite images as they moved towards the shores of Syria.
The ship "Sparta" is recognized as one of Russia's military logistical tools in Syria and is under U.S. sanctions. The ship "General Skobylov" is also under Western sanctions due to the transportation of Russian oil.
The agreement between Damascus and Moscow regarding the Hmeimim and Tartus bases was reached after 18 months of negotiations and followed the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
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