Port Call in Tartus Possible - Russian Defense Min. © RIA Novosti. Vitaly Anikov
Source: Russia Sending 3 Military Ships To Syria -- CBS
(CBS News) Russia is sending three Navy ships, each carrying about 120 marines, to its naval base in Syria, a Russian defense ministry source has confirmed to CBS News.
However, the Russian Defense Ministry later issued a statement denying the reports.
According to CBS' source, three ships of the Northern fleet will come to Tartus by the end of this week to renew water and food supplies, and will spend two to three days there. Because the port is small, one ship will dock at a time.
The supply base at Tartus is the Russian navy's only refueling facility in the Mediterranean. Approximately 100 personnel staff the base.
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My Comment: The first report is that Russian ships are going to Syria. The second report denies the first report. What does not help the situation is the Russian Defense Minister is muddling the discussion.
The problem for Russia is that Syria is a crucial strategic ally .... but the brutality of the Assad regime is forcing Moscow to doubt if it's commitment to the Assad regime is a smart one. Expect more contradictions in the future .... but if I was a betting man .... I would bet that Russia will position warships off the coast of Syria .... they will continue to ship weapons to the Syrian military .... but they will not directly interfere in what is essentially now a full blown sectarian civil war.