Russia removes military equipment from Syria’s Tartus, its only naval base in the Mediterranean

The Russian cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II have begun transporting military equipment out of the Syrian port of Tartus, Russia’s only naval base in the Mediterranean Sea, satellite images published by journalist Mark Krutov show.

After Sparta II left the port, most of the containers and military equipment at the dock disappeared, Krutov noted. The remaining equipment is now being loaded onto the Sparta. According to Norwegian naval analyst Tør Are Iversen, the process is being guarded by a Russian naval Grachonok-class anti-saboteur ship.

On January 21, Russian media reported that the port of Tartus had terminated a 49-year investment contract with Russia’s Stroytransgaz following the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad by rebels led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Around the same time, cargo ships linked to the Russian Defense Ministry were allowed into the port. Before this, Russian transport ships and Navy vessels had been denied entry and were forced to drift off the Syrian coast. Several warships remain stationed near the port.

The Russian pro-war Telegram channel Fighterbomber wrote on January 22 that most of the Russian Armed Forces’ equipment and property is being transported by air. Ships, he said, are being used only for items that are too large or too expensive to move by plane.