UK tracks Russian ships carrying ammunition from Syria

LONDON – Britain said on Feb 15 that it had tracked in recent days six Russian naval and merchant ships carrying ammunition used in Syria as they sailed through the Channel.

The British Defence Ministry said in a statement that the ships – shadowed by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force – were withdrawing from Syria following the

ousting of its leader Bashar al-Assad,

a close Russian ally, in December 2024.

Russia has been

evacuating its military assets from Syria

since Mr Assad’s overthrow, the ministry said, describing it as a “blow to (Moscow’s) ambitions in the Middle East”.

The Russian Embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

“These ships were retreating from Syria after (Russian President Vladimir) Putin abandoned his ally Assad, yet they were still armed and full of ammunition,” Defence Minister John Healey said. “This shows Russia is weakened but remains a threat.”

Russia hopes to retain the use of naval and air bases in Syria under

the new Islamist leadership

that took power after Mr Assad fled to Moscow following 13 years of civil war in which Russian troops had intervened on his behalf.

Britain’s Defence Ministry said the withdrawal of ammunition from Syria showed that Russia’s prioritisation of its war in Ukraine had affected its capability to keep Mr Assad in power.

Mr Putin held a phone call with Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Feb 12, the first call between the two men since Mr Assad’s fall.

The Syrian presidency said Mr Putin had invited Syria’s new foreign minister to visit Moscow and told Mr Sharaa that Moscow was ready to reconsider bilateral deals signed under Mr Assad. REUTERS