Russian warships sail for Syria, spotted off coast of Norway today

[Lars77]

http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/warships-sail-severomorsk-towards-syria-10-07



Tartus is the last Russian naval base in the Mediterranean. Russia has leased the Tartus port since 1971 as part of a debt write-off. The port also serves as an important point for Russian arms- and goods sale to Syria.

Two weeks ago, BarentsObserver posted a photo of the cargo ship “Alaed” anchored in the Kola bay after she had to return to Russia due to her loss of British insurance for carrying military cargo, said to be three Mi-25 fighter helicopters with destination Syria.

In addition to “Admiral Chabanenko” three large landing vessels are now on voyage from Russia’s Northern fleet towards Tartus, Interfax reports.

RIA Novosti reports that the three other Northern fleet vessels are the large landing ships “Alexander Otrakovsky,” “Kondopoga” and “Saint George the Victorious”

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This was July 10th. Today the Norwegian navy stated they are following the Russian group as they make their way past the Norwegian coast going south. They released this image from the Norwegian coast guard vessel "KV Barentshav".




Experts in Norwegian media speculate this is a two-fold move. First to show strength and affirm Russian presence in Syria, but the vessels are landing vessels and are ideal for fast evacuation of the base should it come to that.

Here is a google map link to the port: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Tartus+Port,+Tartus%E2%80%8E,+Tartus+Governorate,+Syria&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.928982,86.748047&oq=tartus&t=h&hq=Tartus+Port,&hnear=Tartus%E2%80%8E,+Tartus+District,+Tartus+Governorate,+Syria&z=13