Russia withdraws military equipment from Syria's Tartous port, images show

Moscow had moved columns of military vehicles to the port after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersRussia withdraws military equipment from Syrian port, images show2 days agoNick Eardley, Matt Murphy & Joshua CheethamBBC VerifyPA MediaThe Royal Navy released images of the Sparta II (centre) as it moved through international waters in late December, before arriving in SyriaRussia has stepped up its military withdrawal from Syria, removing vehicles and containers from its key Tartous port on the country's Mediterranean coast, analysis by BBC Verify suggests.

After the fall of the Assad regime in December, verified footage showed columns of Russian vehicles moving north towards the port. Satellite images subsequently showed military hardware being stored there.

But new images published on Wednesday by Planet Labs showed that much of the material has now disappeared, after the departure of vessels linked to the Russian military.

It comes as Russian officials held "frank discussions" with the new government in Damascus, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

There have been reports that the new Syrian government has cancelled Russia's lease at the port - but government departments contacted by the BBC would not confirm a final decision had been made.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly5zmm186no

---