Another Russian ship heads to Syria for remnants of military equipment
10.02.2025 - 11:14
Russian ship heads to Syrian port of Tartus to pick up military equipment left behind after losing control of region.
The Russian cargo ship Sparta IV is heading to the Syrian port of Tartus to load equipment left behind after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Gospodarka Morska пише reports.
As of February 9, the ship was off the eastern coast of Sicily. At the same time, other Russian container ships loaded with weapons have left the Mediterranean Sea and entered the Atlantic. They are heading north along the western coast of Portugal, accompanied by two large landing ships, the Ivan Green and the Aleksandr Otrakovsky, as well as the tanker General Skobelev.
The Russian frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Golovko, which had been escorting the Russian cargo ships since they left Syria on January 27, were not seen in the convoy. This may indicate that they have turned back and are now escorting the Sparta IV on its way to Syria.
After loading the military equipment, the ships will likely guard it on its return route to avoid a repeat of the fate of the cargo ship Ursa Major, which sank on December 23 off the coast of Algeria.
Meanwhile, the Russian Navy tanker Yelnya has been near the Algerian coast for two months, probably to refuel the ships. According to Itamilradar, which tracks the movement of aircraft and ships in the Mediterranean, the refueling may have taken place last Friday. This allowed the convoy to continue its movement towards Syria.
The Russian fleet in the Mediterranean is under constant surveillance by NATO aircraft and drones. According to military analysts, the Russian convoy is likely accompanied by the nuclear submarines USS Indiana (USA) and HMS Anson (Great Britain), which were repeatedly recorded in the Strait of Gibraltar in January-February.
The movement of the Russian convoy is currently being monitored by the British high-speed patrol boat HMS Cutlass. The Royal Navy ship monitors the situation and guards the waters of Gibraltar.
As previously reported by USM, the new Syrian authorities have terminated a 49-year agreement with Russia on the port of Tartus. Now the Russians are hastily withdrawing military equipment from the former only naval base in the Mediterranean.
