A Russian military convoy has delivered supplies to the Syrian port of Tartous, marking the first resupply mission under a new agreement reached between Moscow and Damascus in August. The four-vessel fleet arrived at the port on September 7, confirming that Russia continues to service its strategic facilities in western Syria, including the Tartous naval base and the Hmeimim air base.
Syria announced the memorandum of understanding in early August following 18 months of negotiations. According to the Syrian foreign ministry, the pact transforms the long-standing Russian military sites into “joint training and capacity-building centres,” with Damascus assuming control over civilian operations.
Satellite imagery verified by Reuters shows the cargo vessel Sparta docked at Tartous alongside the navy replenishment oiler Akademik Pashin, while the tanker General Skobelev remained offshore. The Sparta has historically handled Russian military logistics in the region, and both vessels are subject to Western sanctions.
Moscow initially intervened in Syria’s 13-year civil war to support former President Bashar al-Assad. However, Assad’s removal in 2024 significantly reduced Russian influence across the Middle East. Since then, Russia has worked to rebuild relations with the new Syrian administration to preserve its two military facilities outside the former Soviet Union.
Despite the ongoing cooperation, diplomatic tensions remain as Damascus continues to demand Assad’s extradition from Moscow, where the former president currently seeks refuge. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa have held discussions regarding the future status of the bases.
Smart move keeping a foothold. Who would have guessed logistics could survive such a regime change?
Eighteen months of talks for this? I expected more from the new Syrian leadership.
The extradition tension must make those base visits incredibly awkward for everyone involved.
Does anyone else find it ironic they call it capacity-building while docked with sanctioned warships?
Interesting how quickly they pivoted from ‘regime change’ to ‘joint training centers.’ Diplomacy in action.
So Assad is gone but Russia is still there? This deal seems more about optics than actual power.