Russia Secretly Resupplies Syria Base, Signaling Grip on Mideast

(MENAFN) Russia has quietly moved to reinforce its military presence in Syria, delivering cargo to a key air base via a sanctioned vessel — a development that signals Moscow's determination to preserve its strategic foothold in the country even after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

Russia, Syria, and US authorities have all declined to comment on the findings.

Drawing on accounts from unnamed US officials and analysis of satellite imagery, the WSJ reported Monday that the cargo vessel Sparta departed the Russian city of St. Petersburg in March and reached Syria's Tartus port in May — marking what the report identified as the first known resupply operation since Assad's regime collapsed.

For much of its passage, the Sparta traveled under escort from Russian navy ships. US officials identified the shipment as equipment bound for the Khmeimim air base, located near Tartus. The WSJ noted that the vessel's owner is currently subject to US sanctions over prior weapons deliveries conducted on Moscow's behalf.

Aron Lund, a Syria expert at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, told the WSJ he believes Russia successfully negotiated with Damascus to retain operational control of its bases following the political transition.

The Sparta, according to the report, belongs to a small fleet Russia has long used for covert transfers of weapons and military hardware across the region.

The WSJ also noted the measured reaction from within the US government:
"Some U.S. officials said the Sparta's resupply mission didn't raise alarm bells, because the Syrian government's ties with Moscow are known and the military equipment is far from American interests, primarily in the country's northeast."

While Russia pulled back much of its personnel from Syria in the immediate aftermath of Assad's fall, a US official familiar with current intelligence assessments told the WSJ that hundreds of Russian troops and staff remain on the ground.

Moscow operates two critical installations in Syria: a naval logistics hub at Tartus and the Khmeimim air base situated in the northwestern province of Latakia. The long-term status of both facilities reportedly featured in discussions between Syrian officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a January meeting, the WSJ added.

MENAFN02062026000045017169ID1111199474