BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:10 A.M.) – The Russian Ministry of Defense is continuing its military equipment deliveries to the Syrian Arab Republic, as another cargo ship was photographed transiting the Bosphorus Strait between the Mediterranean and Black seas.
According to maritime observer Yoruk Isik, the LST Saratov 150 of the Black Sea Fleet was seen transiting the Bosphorus Strait, en route to the Syrian port-city of Tartous.
As pointed out by Isik below, the Saratov 150 specializes in transporting armored vehicles, including tanks and armored personnel carriers (APC).
Russia’s #Syria campaign continues: #ВМФ Project 1171 #ЧФ BlackSea Fleet 197th Landing Ship Brigade Tapir (NATO:Alligator) class tank/APC carrying LST Saratov 150 transited Bosphorus towards Med en route to Russian naval base in #Tartus (formerly 720th Logistics Support Point). pic.twitter.com/Z5d1OOGAGk
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) July 5, 2020
The delivery of tanks and other armored vehicles to Syria is incredibly important at this juncture, especially since the Turkish military’s attack on the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) equipment in early March of this year.
During the Turkish military attack, several soldiers from the Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Forces (NDF) were killed, while tens of armored and technical vehicles were destroyed by the barrage.
Since the attack, however, the Russian Ministry of Defense has increased its cargo shipments to Syria, as this is the third time this year that Moscow has shipped tanks and other armored vehicles to the Arab Republic.
Russia usually amplifies these deliveries to Syria when they are planning a new offensive; this is especially true, given the Syrian Army’s buildup around the Jabal Al-Zawiya region of southern Idlib.
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