Satellite imagery show that Russian naval ships have left Moscow's base at Tartous on Syria's coast and some have dropped anchor offshore following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces.
A satellite image shows a Russian naval facility, in Tartous, Syria in this handout picture taken on December 6, 2024. 2024 PLANET LABS INC./Handout via Reuters
Satellite imagery show that Russian naval ships have left Moscow's base at Tartous on Syria's coast and some have dropped anchor offshore following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces.
An image taken on Dec. 9 by Planet Labs showed at least three vessels in Russia’s Mediterranean fleet, including two guided missile frigates and an oiler, moored around 13 km (eight miles) northwest of Tartous. The rest of the fleet could not be immediately located in satellite imagery.
In Moscow, Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Syrian rebels seized the capital Damascus on Sunday after a lightening advance that sent Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and 54 years of his family's autocratic rule.
Moscow, which was an ally of the Assad regime for decades, is now scrambling to make a deal with the rebels to guarantee the safety of two strategically important military bases.
Russia has a major air base in the coastal city of Latakia and its naval facility at Tartous.
The Tartous base is Russia's only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, and Moscow has used Syria as a staging post to fly its military contractors in and out of Africa.
Previously, Russia had five surface ships and one submarine at Tartous, according to an analysis of satellite imagery by BlackSky and Planet Labs. An image taken on Dec. 5 by BlackSky showed all six vessels at the base.
The Dec. 9 satellite images confirm earlier reports by Russian war blogger “Rybar” that the warships had left Tartous and taken up position off the coast for security reasons.
The fleet departed from the naval base sometime between Dec. 6 and Dec. 9, satellite imagery indicated.
By Reade Levinson
Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried in the country's holiest shrine, state media said early on Friday, after huge crowds gathered for his funeral with his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei still hidden from public view.
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday the country was prepared to relaunch its military campaign against Iran "with even greater force" if needed, as fresh strikes between the United States and Iran raised fears the ceasefire could collapse entirely.
Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said the cell responsible for what he called "terrorist" bombings that targeted Damascus on Tuesday was now in custody, Syrian TV reported on Thursday.
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