Russian Fleet Delivers Supplies to Syrian Coastal Bases Under New Agreement

TARTOUS, Syria, Sept 14 (Reuters) – A convoy of Russian naval and cargo ships delivered supplies last week to coastal military facilities long utilized by Moscow, according to two sources familiar with the operation. The mission marks the first such resupply effort since Damascus and Moscow reached an agreement last month outlining the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria.

The operation provides an early indication that Russia is continuing to resupply facilities at Tartous port and the Hmeimim airbase under the new deal. The agreement stipulates that civilian facilities used by Russia will be transferred to Syrian control, while military sites will be converted into joint training centres.

Russian forces are to remain at both bases under the terms of the agreement. Russia has used Hmeimim and Tartous to project power across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Africa. Tartous serves as Moscow’s only naval repair and replenishment facility in the Mediterranean.

Moscow has supplied both sites in recent months, but last week’s convoy was the first since the August 9 agreement was publicly announced.

The four-vessel convoy arrived at the Mediterranean port of Tartous on September 7, based on movements tracked by Reuters and maritime intelligence firm SynMax.

Satellite imagery verified by Reuters showed the Russian Ro-Ro cargo ship Sparta and navy replenishment oiler Akademik Pashin docked on September 8 at piers 3 and 4, respectively.

A Reuters reporter observed the two vessels docked at the port on September 9, while the Russian tanker General Skobelev remained offshore. A surveillance balloon was sighted flying over the port during the unloading operation.

A Syrian military source and a Russian-Syrian businessman with knowledge of the operation said Sparta unloaded supplies including ammunition destined for Hmeimim and Tartous. Reuters could not independently confirm the contents of the shipment or their intended recipients.

SynMax identified the fourth vessel in the convoy as Admiral Levchenko, a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer.

Syria’s General Authority of Ports and Customs and Russia’s embassy in Damascus did not respond to requests for comment.

The vessels sailed dark, ceasing to transmit their positional signals shortly after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar en route to the Mediterranean. Reuters tracked the group via satellite imagery as it continued eastward and ultimately reached the Syrian coast.

Sparta has long been used in Russian military logistics operations in Syria and is subject to U.S. sanctions. General Skobelev is also under Western sanctions for transporting Russian oil.

Damascus and Moscow reached the agreement governing Hmeimim and Tartous after 18 months of negotiations, following the December 2024 overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad, a close Russian ally.

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