Russian naval vessels anchored in Syria

[tabatha]

A Russian vessel group led by the aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov” has arrived in the Syrian port of Tartus.

The vessel group led by the Russian Navy’s flag vessel, Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov” is currently on a mission in the Mediterranean. On January 7 the group arrived in the port of Tartus for replenishment of supplies, ITAR-TASS reports.

The move is considered by many observers as an apparent show of Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad whose country has been gripped by a nearly 10-month bloody unrest. The Russian Navy, however, claimed the move was part of scheduled exercises and had no connection with the situation in Syria. According to a navy spokesman the mission was planned already in 2010.

http://barentsobserver.com/russian-naval-vessels-anchored-in-syria.5005930.html

[Lawlbringer]

1. Uh oh.

They'd better secure their nuclear wessels.

[HopeHoops]

2. They aren't really a threat to us anymore. It happened. (yawn).

If anything, we're a threat to them now. At least given the pre-Obama leadership and the current nutjobs in Congress. I could see where they might be a little edgy.

[Voltaire]

3. The Russian Navy

has had a presence in Port Tartus for a LOOONNNGGG time, trust me on that one. Normally nothing big as the Kuznetsov, but Russians in Syria is nothing new.

[tabatha]

4. Yup. Russia is somewhat ambivalent about Syria.