| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Russia sends warships to Syria |
| 2012-07-10 |
| Russia despatched a flotilla of warships to its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus on Tuesday in an apparent show of support for President Bashar al-Assad. Two destroyers and three amphibious landing vessels Russia's defence ministry insisted that the mission was part of a previously scheduled exercise in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea and at least one of the vessels in the flotilla has patrolled waters off Syria earlier this year. But Western diplomats say the purpose of the mission is to show tangible support for Mr Assad, to warn the West against military intervention in Syria and to prepare for the possible evacuation of Russian nationals from the country. Russia renewed naval patrols in the Mediterranean in 2007 -- after a 15-year hiatus -- with a wider aim of expressing the country's military resurgence. It was unclear whether the ships were carrying weapons supplies or large numbers of marines. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 Rooters:Interfax quoted the military source as saying the ships were carrying marines on a training mission as well as food, water and fuel for Russia's naval maintenance and repair base in Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartous. One (or more) of three options: 1. Evacuation force 2. Protection of Russian assets in Tartus 3. Tripwire force |
| Posted by: Pappy 2012-07-10 21:20 |
| #5 It was unclear whether the ships were carrying weapons supplies or large numbers of marines. "Unclear" to some possibly. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-07-10 21:05 |
| #4 sorry link failed http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/10/225649.html |
| Posted by: Captain Flomosh2097 2012-07-10 20:10 |
| #3 see also Al Arabiya Russia sends warships to Syria, U.S. sees no cause for concern |
| Posted by: linker 2012-07-10 20:09 |
| #2 Gawd, the infinite depths of Russian self-esteem are something to behold. Apparently Russians, in order to view themselves in the proper light, are nothing unless they are against something. They never seem to be for anything. What a miserable bunch of nasty, vicious, bottom-feeding, sniveling parasites. Which brings us right back to Dar al Islam... |
| Posted by: Shinter Javirong9154 2012-07-10 16:09 |
| #1 One things for sure Putin is not scared of Obama |
| Posted by: Fester Clunter7205 2012-07-10 15:44 |