Russia to transform its Syria naval facility to permanent base

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A Syrian army soldier and civilians inspect the damage after explosions hit the Syrian city of Tartus in late May 2016Reuters
A Syrian army soldier and civilians inspect the damage after explosions hit the Syrian Port city of Tartus in late May 2016 Reuters. Russia’s defence ministry said on October 10 that it plans to transform its naval facility in Tartus into a permanent base.

Russia’s defence ministry said Monday that the country was poised to transform its naval facility in the Syrian port city of Tartus into a permanent base.

“In Syria we will have a permanent naval base in Tartus,” Russian news agencies quoted deputy defence minister Nikolai Pankov as saying.

The announcement represents the latest move by Moscow to bolster its forces in Syria as tensions with the West have surged over Russia’s bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

The defence ministry said last week it had deployed its S-300 air defence missile system to Tartus and warned Washington it would halt any attempted US strikes in Syria.

russian-tartus-base-syriaMoscow also sent three missile ships to reinforce its naval forces off the coast of the conflict-wracked nation.

Pankov did not provide a timeline for turning the Tartus naval facility — which dates back to the Soviet era — into a permanent base.

He said the main purpose of the S-300s was to protect the Tartus naval facility.

Russian lawmakers on Friday ratified a deal with Syria on its “indefinite” deployment of air forces to the country, a move seen as paving the way for its jets to stay long-term.

The deal, signed between Moscow and Damascus in August 2015, allowed Russia to establish its Hmeimim airbase to launch operations last year.

Tensions have soared since Washington pulled the plug on talks with Moscow aimed at reviving a Syria truce deal, citing Russia’s brutal bombing campaign.

Russia on Saturday vetoed a UN draft resolution on stopping Russian and Syrian regime air strikes on the war-ravaged city of Aleppo, with the United States calling for a war crimes probe into the carnage.

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5 responses to “Russia to transform its Syria naval facility to permanent base”

  1. Rudy1947 Avatar

    “He said the main purpose of the S-300s was to protect the Tartus naval facility.”

    The secondary purpose will be to leave them behind for Syria and the Hizzbillies if all goes their way with the war.

    1. Such strange bed fellows. Hezb/Iran and Russia. You can never be sure, who is playing games on who?
      Can S300/400 detect/lockon F35?

  2. Al-Assad have capitulated for Putin’s plan to turn Syria to puppet state of greater Russia.

    Now Turkey is at the mercy of Putin….

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Probably shivering a little .. even the Turks on Cyprus who were just beginning to get friendly with the Greeks, and have the Russian Banking System straightened out a little on the tax-side for Cyprus. 😉

  3. Hind Abyad Avatar
    Hind Abyad

    Ankara acquiesces much more to its former adversary Russia than to its traditional ally, the United States.
    We have not been hearing anything from Ankara on Aleppo or al-Bab, speculation is rife that Turkey has taken
    a step back to align its Syrian policy with Russia’s.

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