Russia sends supply ship to Syria’s Khmeimim base
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Russia dispatched a cargo ship to Syria to replenish supplies at its Khmeimim air base, marking the first known resupply mission since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in late 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Citing U.S. officials and satellite imagery analysis, the newspaper reported that the Russian cargo vessel Sparta departed from St. Petersburg in March and arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus in May after being escorted by Russian naval vessels for most of its journey.
The shipment is viewed as a possible indication that Moscow intends to maintain its military presence in Syria despite ongoing negotiations with the country’s new leadership over the future of Russian bases.
According to the report, satellite images and ship-tracking data reviewed by U.S. officials confirmed the vessel’s arrival and its role in resupplying the Khmeimim air base in western Syria.
Open-source intelligence analysts also reported in mid-May that Sparta entered Tartus under heavy security measures. Following its passage through the Strait of Gibraltar, the convoy reportedly switched off its tracking transponders, while at least two accompanying vessels transmitted false location data indicating they were in the Baltic Sea.
Since the change of government in Damascus, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has proposed converting Russian military facilities in Syria into training centers for the Syrian army.
Moscow has sought to preserve a military foothold in the country, but negotiations with the new Syrian authorities have yet to produce a formal agreement.
Russia’s military presence in Syria has long centered on the Khmeimim air base in Latakia Governorate and the naval facility in Tartus, both of which have been critical to Moscow’s operations in the Middle East and Mediterranean region.