Russian Military Convoy Blocked From Entering Port Of Tartus In Syria

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Russian Military Convoy Blocked From Entering Port Of Tartus In Syria

A Russian military convoy was reportedly prevented from entering Tartus naval base in Syria. This is the latest indication of estrangement between the two erstwhile allies. The move came amid the ongoing withdrawal of Russian forces from Tartus in the wake of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) sudden overthrow of dictator Bashar Al Assad late last year.

“The Syrian Defense Ministry has prevented a Russian military convoy from entering the Tartus base,” the

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. “A column of 30 missile-armed vehicles that set out in the morning from the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province was stopped at a checkpoint in Tartus by troops subordinate to the new Syrian government. After waiting at the checkpoint for eight hours, the convoy was forced to return to the Khmeimim base at around 5 p.m. local time.”

Video emerging on social media showed Syrian forces ordering the convoy to turn around and head back to Khmeimim. The trucks appear to be caring missiles in their launch tubes.

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Syrian Arab Army blocked a Russian military convoy of around 35 military vehicles loaded with air defense missiles and various weapons from entering the city of

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this evening, and the convoy was forced to turn back towards the Hmeimim base in the countryside of Latakia.

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— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu)

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Russians have frequently traveled this route to move equipment and supplies from Khmeimim, their master airbase in Syria, to Tartus, where they had a major naval facility prior to the fall of Assad, and vice versa, as you can see in the following videos.

Footage recorded yesterday showing a large convoy of empty trucks including heavy duty trailers heading from Tartus to Khmeimim.

This indicates that Russia is continuing to move equipment from Khmeimim to Tartus for evacuation, not just vehicles from their smaller bases in Syria

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— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK)

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No specific reason was given for the Russian convoy being denied entry to Tartus this time. However, TRT noted that it took place “amid recent statements by the Defense Minister of the transitional government of Syria, Murhaf Abu Kasra, that the preservation of Russian bases would depend on their benefits for Syria.”

“If we benefit from this for Syria, then yes,” the Russians could remain there, Abu Kasra was quoted as saying.

Negotiations between Moscow and Damascus over the future of Russian bases in Syria “are almost certainly ongoing,” according to an assessment yesterday by the U.K.’s Defense Intelligence.

“Russia almost certainly continues to actively engage HTS to develop ties and promote itself as a beneficial partner,” the assessment suggested. “However, Russia’s negotiating position is weaker due to various factors, including, probably, the Syrian leadership’s hostile attitude towards former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who is now being sheltered by Russia.”

Despite continuing its withdrawal from Syria, Russia still has a keen interest in maintaining a presence there. Having a port and air base on the Mediterranean gives it the ability to project tactical and strategic power into NATO’s backyard, as well as into Africa and deeper into the Middle East. Syria, meanwhile, could possibly benefit from the return of Russia’s advanced air defense systems to the country helping to protect its skies.

Adding to the complexity of this issue, Turkey, which backed HTS’ surprise overthrow of Assad, also wants to further assert its influence over Syria. Turkish journalist Mete Sohtaoğlu told us that no deal has yet been reached between Moscow and Damascus in part due to pressure from Ankara.

The recent activity in and around Tartus also

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from Syrian media that the country’s fledgling government in Damascus canceled Russia’s 49-year lease agreement for its base in Tartus. The Kremlin had struck the deal back in 2017 with the Assad regime, which had essentially gifted the naval facility, as well as Khmeimim Air Base, to the Russians. Two years earlier, Russia’s military launched an intervention in the country, which had saved Assad from advancing rebel forces. Russian forces were still actively fighting rebel forces, including elements of the coalition led by HTS that ultimately deposed Assad, right up until the collapse of the regime.

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The port of Tartus in Syria is strategically located along the Mediterranean Sea and near Africa. (

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Earth)

As part of the Russian withdrawal from Tartus, two Russian-flagged roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) cargo ships – Sparta and Sparta II – were loaded with equipment. They transited the Strait of Gibraltar and are both currently located off the coast of Spain yesterday, according to the

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vessel tracking website.

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, according to MarineTraffic.com while Sparta II is

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.

As we previously reported, satellite imagery taken on Jan. 25 that TWZ obtained from

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, showed those RO/ROs docked in Tartus amid cargo loading activity. The two ships had been holding offshore for days before finally being allowed to enter the port.

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A satellite image taken on Jan. 25, 2025, showed Sparta and Sparta II docked in Syria’s port of Tartus. (Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)

The images also showed the disappearance of a significant number of Russian vehicles and other materiel from a pier where they had been marshaled weeks ago. You can read more about that in our initial report here.

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A look at a section of one of the piers at Tartus where Russian assets had been had been marshaled weeks ago showing the disappearance of various vehicles and other materiel. (Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies)

It remains to be seen whether Syria will allow Russia to remain at Tartus and Khmeimim. Being able to turn around an armed convoy from Tartus highlights that Damascus has the upper hand in any negotiations over the future of those two facilities.

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#Russian #Military #Convoy #Blocked #Entering #Port #Tartus #Syria

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