russian Sparta cargo ship, tasked with transporting weapons and military equipment from Syria, experienced a breakdown off the coast of Portugal. A failure in the fuel pipe of the main engine caused the ship to halt temporarily. However, the crew managed to repair the issue and resumed their journey through the Strait of Gibraltar, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.
This incident comes amid a significant shift in russia’s military operations in Syria. The remnants of russian contingent have withdrawn from remote areas, consolidating their presence to just two key locations: the Khmeimim Air Base and the naval base in Tartus. Simultaneously, russia has started transferring part of its military assets from Tartus to Libya by sea.
Read more: How Ukraine’s Naval Drones Shut Down russia’s Syrian Express in March 2024 and What It Means
Adding to these developments, reports indicate that Syria’s new leadership is urging Moscow to withdraw its military contingent entirely from Syrian territory, including from Khmeimim and Tartus, by February 20, 2025. This demand is reportedly aimed at facilitating the lifting of international sanctions on Damascus.
Read more: Offensive on Aleppo: What Are the Assad Regime's and russian Forces in Syria Fighting the Rebels
