Russian ship carrying weapons headed to Syria
A Russian ship has been seen carrying military equipment through the Bosporus Strait to Syria as President Bashar al-Assad's forces step up their campaign against rebels.
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Russian ship carrying weapons through the Bosporus Strait. Photo: Almasdar News |
According to Almasdar News agency, on July 31, the Russian Tapir-class cargo ship LST Orsk 148 was seen passing through the Bosporus Strait in the Mediterranean.
Almasdar News reported that the Russian ship was en route to the port of Tartus on the northern coast of Syria. It was loaded with military equipment.
This is not the first time Russian ships have been spotted carrying military equipment to Syria, although President Vladimir Putin ordered a reduction in Russian military forces in Syria last December. Russia has already begun renovating and modernizing its naval base at the Mediterranean port of Tartus.
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Close-up of Russian ship carrying equipment to Syria. Photo: Almasdar News |
The Russian military is said to be stepping up support for Syrian government forces to launch a major offensive against Islamist rebels in Idlib province. Meanwhile, areas previously controlled by the Islamic State (IS) in southwestern Syria have been liberated by the army of President Assad's government.
Although President Assad has said that he wants to retake Idlib from the rebels and considers it a top priority for the Syrian army, Russian officials have not officially confirmed plans for a major offensive in Idlib, which hosts many rebels and their families who have been evacuated from areas covered by the Russian-sponsored “reconciliation agreement.”
Analysts say that if the Assad regime wants to retake Idlib, it will face many difficulties because opposition rebels and terrorists from many other areas of Syria are pouring in here. However, the current time is still considered a favorable opportunity for the Syrian army to liberate this area because the strength of the rebels has decreased significantly in recent times.
