Russia Withdrawing Military From Syrian Port, Evidence Suggests

Recent satellite imagery and vessel tracking data suggest Russia is stepping up its military withdrawal from Syria, removing vehicles and containers from its key Tartous port on the country’s Mediterranean coast. This trend comes amidst reports of discussions between Russian and Syrian officials about the future of Russia’s military presence in the country.

Signs of Departed Hardware

After the fall of Assad regime in December, verified footage showed columns of Russian vehicles moving north towards the port. Subsequent satellite images revealed military hardware being stored there. However, new images published by Planet Labs on Wednesday show that much of this material has now disappeared following the departure of vessels linked to the Russian military.

Departure of Russian Vessels

Two Russian vessels, Sparta and Sparta II, docked at Tartous on January 21st and 22nd, according to ship tracking sites. Both ships are owned by Oboronlogistika LLC, a shipping company that operates under the Russian Ministry of Defence. They are sanctioned by the US and have been linked by Ukraine to the transportation of Russian arms. Both vessels are roll-on/roll-off ships, capable of carrying vehicles.

The Sparta II’s onboard tracker signal was last detected on Tuesday morning travelling west through the Mediterranean near Cyprus, before disappearing. This suggests the tracker may have been intentionally switched off. On Wednesday, another vessel, identified as the Sparta, was observed leaving the port in satellite images, along with the removal of many containers parked nearby.

Uncertain Destinations

The destinations of the vessels remain unclear. Maritime expert Frederik Van Lokeren, a former Belgian navy lieutenant and analyst, suggests they could be heading to Libya, where Russia already supports the warlord Khalifa Haftar. Ukrainian military intelligence recently reported at least 10 flights from Syria’s Hmeimim airbase to Libyan airbases since mid-December, carrying military personnel and equipment.

Mr. Van Lokeren also points to the possibility of the ships heading back to Russia, stating there is a “large probability that the military equipment might end up being deployed on the frontline against Ukraine.

End of an Era?

Dmitry Gorenburg, an expert on security issues in the former Soviet Union at Harvard University, believes the ship movements signal the ending of Russia’s presence at Tartous. He suggests it is only a matter of time before the base’s military presence concludes.

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