Satellite Imagery Confirms Russia’s Withdrawal From Key Syrian Naval Base

Satellite imagery has confirmed that Russia’s withdrawal from its Tartus naval base in Syria has begun. The images show Russian military vehicles and other equipment being moved out of the port.

The Tartus base has been a key location for Russia’s operations in the Mediterranean, and losing access to it would be a major blow to Russia’s military presence in the region.

This withdrawal comes after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad’s regime in December 2024.

On January 25, satellite images from Maxar showed two Russian-flagged roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) cargo ships, Sparta and Sparta II, docked at Tartus. These ships had been waiting offshore for several days before receiving clearance to enter the port.

A large amount of Russian military equipment vanished from the Syrian port of Tartus with Sparta II’s departure, while Sparta vessel remains in port. The nearest loading area to the vessel has become densely packed with containers, as a @planet satellite image from Jan. 27 shows. pic.twitter.com/RHACg4ac3C

— Mark Krutov (@kromark) January 27, 2025

The images also show a major reduction in the number of Russian vehicles and materials stationed at the port, which had been accumulating there for weeks.

Satellite imagery from January 27 revealed that even more vehicles and equipment had been moved away from the pier, with several vehicles now lined up for easier loading onto the ships.

A large number of shipping containers were also visible in a nearby cargo area, though it is unclear whether these containers are related to the military equipment or if they are part of resumed non-military operations at the port. This withdrawal follows reports that Russia’s lease for the Tartus port has been cancelled.

Satellite imagery from 19.01.2025 (Image 1) shows that the Russia military transport ship #Sparta is still in port at #Tartus, Syria, but …

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