Russian Navy in Tartus

DEBKAfile’s military sources disclose that a powerful Russian naval contingent, led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov , left Murmansk on the Barents Sea Aug. 18 to dock at the Syrian Mediterranean port of Tartus Saturday, Aug. 23. It includes the Russian Navy’s biggest missile cruiser Moskva and at least four nuclear missile submarines.

Task force with Flag ship aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov (52 aircraft, 15 support ships and submarines) deployed at the Syrian port of Tartus.



Guided Missile Cruiser Moskva
Moskva (easily recognizable by the unique battery of sixteen SS-N-12 Sandbox surface to surface missiles sited on both sides of the ship. It was designed primarily to take on American aircraft carrier battle groups.

One thing to note that the fleet was before in port of Sevastopol (Crimean area of Ukraine). Ukraine charges Russia $93 million per year for using the Sevastopol base, and Ukraine keeps demanding more money. Bashar al-Assad does not charge the Russians for using Latakia and Tartus, nor does he charge them for water or electricity.

What is the meaning of this step? Is it related to Hezbollah movements in North Lebanon?

There are a lot of dots to connect in here....