Contents tagged with Syria
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Russian cargo ship 'Ursa Major' sinks after explosion in Mediterranean Sea
In a dramatic turn of events, a Russian ship, "Ursa Major," traveling through the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, suffered an explosion and sank. Two crew members are currently missing, while the remaining 14 have been rescued, reports El Español. Earlier sources indicated that the freighter was likely headed for the Syrian port of Tartus to retrieve Russian military equipment and supplies.
Spanish media outlets state that the surviving crew members have been transported to the …
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Russian naval convoy enters Mediterranean amid speculation of withdrawal from Syria
Five Russian ships have navigated past Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea: three large landing ships - “Ivan Gren,” “Alexander Otrakovsky,” and “Alexander Shabalin,” along with cargo vessels “Sparta” and “Ursa Major.” The latter is a cargo ship equipped with two port cranes. “Sparta” and “Ursa Major” are visible on MarineTraffic's map, but military vessels' positions are not displayed. OSINT analysts who specialize in maritime tracking reported the three landing ships' entry into the …
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Turkey opposes Russian military bases in Syria
Turkey has voiced its opposition to the presence of Russian military bases in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in a discussion with journalists, stated that Ankara does not support the establishment of any foreign military bases on Syrian territory, including those of Russia. "We do not endorse the presence of any bases in Syria—not just Russian, but any other," he emphasized. Fidan further highlighted that the decision should be made by the Syrian people, adding, "If they come to a …
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Putin dismisses Assad's overthrow as Russia’s defeat
Russian president Vladimir Putin does not consider the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad a defeat for Russia, citing internal changes among groups that fought against Syrian government forces. According to Putin, Russia has achieved its goal in Syria by preventing the creation of a "terrorist enclave" there.
"You mentioned Syria. You want to portray everything happening in Syria as some sort of defeat for Russia. I assure you, it is not. And I'll tell you why: we went to Syria 10 years ago to …
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Russian troops in Syria grapple with supply shortages amid strategic withdrawal
Russian forces stationed in Syria are reportedly experiencing shortages of water and provisions, prompting a continued withdrawal from remote areas of the country. The issue is notably present at Russia's naval facility in Tartus and the airbase in Khmeimim, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
Amidst these logistical struggles, Russian troops have been withdrawing from distant Syrian regions, often accompanied by rebels who have toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime. Ukrainian intelligence …
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Russia begins withdrawal of military forces from Syria
Russia has begun pulling its military forces from Syria, according to media reports and satellite imagery. Reuters, citing an anonymous source within the Syrian security forces, reports that on Saturday, a cargo plane departed Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia province for Libya. The source, whose affiliation with either Assad’s security services or the new regime remains unspecified, indicated that more flights are expected in the coming days. Cargo helicopters have also been spotted at the …
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Assad seeks sanctuary in Russia: a new addition to Moscow's 'collection' of exiled leaders
Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia on "humanitarian grounds." While there are no official photos yet of Assad settling into his new surroundings, speculation is rife about what he might owe Vladimir Putin for this hospitality and who his new neighbors might be, Digi 24 reports.
Columnist Mark Galeotti suggests that the discredited Syrian ruler will make his home in Barvikha, an upscale enclave for Russia's affluent near Moscow. Historically, this area housed …
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Russian lawmaker proposes relocating Assad family to Mariupol to aid Donbas recovery
In an interview with Russian outlet Gazeta.ru, Dmitry Kuznetsov, a member of Russia's State Duma and the International Affairs Committee, has proposed that Bashar al-Assad, the ousted Syrian president who fled to Russia following rebel capture of Syria's capital Damascus, could be relocated to occupied Mariupol
Kuznetsov argued that the former Syrian leader, along with his family, should settle in Mariupol, where they could "take it under their wing." For his "contribution to the restoration …
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Kremlin: opposition forces promise security for Russian bases in Syria following government overthrow
Rebel forces, who seized power in Syria, have pledged to ensure the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions in the country, as reported by Russia's state news agency TASS, citing an anonymous Kremlin source.
"Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have promised to guarantee the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria," said the agency's source.
Another TASS source in Syria disclosed …
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Russia seeks Turkish assistance for troop withdrawal as Assad regime collapses in Syria
Russia has reached out to Turkey for support in ensuring the safe withdrawal of its troops from Syria following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Reports indicate that Russian forces plan to leave Syria, retaining only two strategic locations: the naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase. Troops are expected to be transported to areas controlled by Turkish forces and flown back to Russia from there.
The armed opposition has captured the capital, Damascus, leading President Bashar …