Russia Evacuates Naval Assets from Syria
Russia has started to leave its naval base in Tartus, western Syria. This is a sign that Russia’s influence in the Mediterranean Sea may be decreasing.
The Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, is under pressure. Rebel forces have been making gains and have now taken control of Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria.
Russia has been helping Assad’s government with military support. But now, it seems that Russia is changing its strategy. The auxiliary ship Yelnya left Tartus on December 2. This ship helps the Russian military by refueling their ships.
On December 3, satellite pictures showed that all of Russia’s major warships based in Tartus had left the port and were in the Mediterranean Sea. These ships include three missile frigates, a submarine, and two support ships.
