Russian transport ships dock in Syrian port, preparing for troop withdrawal.

Russian military transport ships have arrived at the port of Tartus in Syria in preparation for a planned withdrawal after years of Moscow's presence.

The Kyiv Independent, citing data from the ship tracking website MarineTraffic on January 22, reported that the Russian cargo ship Sparta 2 had docked at Tartus port in Syria after weeks at sea in the Mediterranean.

The Sparta 2 ship left the port of Baltiysk in Russia's Kaliningrad province on December 11, 2024, and has been near Tartus since January 5. British media reported that both Sparta 1 and Sparta 2 docked in Tartus on January 21. Both ships are subject to US sanctions.

Did Syria cancel the agreement allowing Russian presence at the Tartus naval base?

The presence of these two transport ships is believed to be aimed at moving Russian military equipment out of Syria. Following the collapse of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, a Russian ally, late last year, the future of Moscow's military bases in Syria, including the Tartus naval port and Hmeimim airfield, has been called into question.

Satellite image taken on December 17, 2024, at the port of Tartus in Syria.

A large amount of military equipment has been transported from other parts of Syria to Tartus in recent weeks, reportedly in preparation for shipment. However, because the transport ships have not yet been allowed to dock, the equipment remains stranded. On January 21, Insider reported that the Syrian authorities have allowed the ships to dock.

Satellite imagery shows Russian military equipment being concentrated at the port of Tartus.

Syrian media recently reported that the new government in Damascus has decided to terminate the agreement allowing Russia to lease the port of Tartus. Russia signed the agreement with Syria in 2019 to lease the port for 49 years. Moscow committed to investing at least half a billion dollars to modernize the port.

Both Russia and Syria declined to comment on reports that the agreement had been cancelled.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tau-van-tai-nga-cap-cang-syria-chuan-bi-cho-cuoc-rut-quan-185250124094450977.htm