Russia resupplies military bases in Syria for first time under new deal
Moscow maintains military foothold in the Mediterranean following talks with Damascus
A Russian convoy has delivered supplies to the port of Tartous in Syria for the first time since the Moscow-Damascus deal was signed in August.
The four-vessel convoy reached the port on September 7, signalling that Moscow is continuing to resupply facilities in western Syria at Tartous port and the Hmeimim air base under the new deal.
Syria announced in early August that a memorandum of understanding had been reached after 18 months of negotiations.
According to the Syrian foreign ministry, the agreement will convert both facilities, long Moscow’s principal military footholds in the Mediterranean and Middle East, into “joint training and capacity-building centres”, with Syria assuming control of civilian operations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, have continued discussions on the future of the bases.