Russian convoy reaches Tartus after Moscow-Damascus base deal
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A four-vessel Russian convoy delivered supplies to Syria’s Tartus port on Sep. 7, marking the first reported Russian resupply operation there since Moscow and Damascus reached an agreement on the future of Russia’s military facilities in Syria, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The convoy’s arrival indicates that Russia is continuing logistical operations at its facilities in western Syria under the new arrangement, which also covers the Khmeimim air base in Latakia.
Syria announced in August that it had reached a memorandum of understanding with Moscow following 18 months of negotiations. Under the agreement, the two facilities, which have served as Russia’s main military footholds in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, are to be transformed into “joint training and capacity-building centers,” while Syria assumes control of civilian operations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa have since held discussions on bilateral relations and the future of the Russian facilities.
Satellite imagery verified by Reuters showed the Russian cargo vessel Sparta docked at Tartus alongside the naval replenishment tanker Akademik Pashin. The tanker General Skobelev was also seen offshore.
The Sparta has long been involved in transporting Russian military supplies to Syria. Both Sparta and General Skobelev are under Western sanctions.
Russia intervened militarily in Syria in 2015 to support former President Bashar al-Assad during the country’s civil war. Assad’s ouster in December 2024 significantly weakened Moscow’s influence in the region and placed the future of its Syrian bases in doubt.
Since then, Moscow has sought to establish ties with the new Syrian administration while working to preserve access to Tartus and Khmeimim, its only military facilities outside the former Soviet Union.
Damascus, meanwhile, continues to demand Assad’s extradition from Russia, where he has been living since fleeing Syria.