The Wall Street Journal reported on June 2, citing U.S. officials and satellite imagery, that a Russian cargo vessel, the Sparta, carried out a resupply operation to the Hmeimim air base in Syria.

The mission underscores Moscow’s determination to preserve its military presence in the country despite the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

According to the U.S. daily, as reported by Enab Baladi, the ship departed Saint Petersburg in March before docking in Tartus in May, escorted for much of its voyage by Russian naval units, including the frigate Admiral Kasatonov.

Satellite images confirmed loading operations in Saint Petersburg and unloading activities in Tartus on May 11, alongside other Russian military vessels. The convoy also reportedly used concealment tactics, including disabling or manipulating its tracking systems.

The operation highlights Russia’s intent to maintain a long-term strategic presence in the Eastern Mediterranean through its Hmeimim and Tartus bases, which remain key pillars of its regional military and logistical network.

Russia has been firmly established in Syria since its 2015 military intervention alongside Bashar al-Assad, with the Hmeimim air base set up the same year in the Latakia province.

The Tartus naval facility dates back even further to 1971, when it was established under a Soviet–Syrian agreement, before being modernized by Moscow in 2017 into a key logistical hub in the Mediterranean.

Source: Enab Baladi / Wall Street Journal