NATO keeps watch as Russian convoy sails toward Gibraltar
NATO is monitoring a Russian military convoy that departed from Syria and is heading towards Gibraltar. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War suspect the equipment might be intended for use against Ukraine.
The Russian convoy, consisting of two container ships loaded with military equipment and their escort vessels, left Syria last week. It is currently situated between Sardinia and Tunisia, heading west. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suspect the equipment might be intended for use against Ukraine.
From the Syrian port of Tartus, the cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II set sail, accompanied by the frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Golovko, landing ships Ivan Gren and Alexander Otrakovsky, and the tankers General Skobelew and Vyazma. It is uncertain whether the entire flotilla is heading towards the Atlantic or if some units have detached near Libya.
Satellite imagery analyst MT Anderson suggested on platform X that Russia might be negotiating with General Khalifa Haftar to establish a military base in Libya. The route of the US drone USN MQ-4C Triton, which tracked the convoy but paused briefly over Benghazi, implies this. The ships Sparta and Sparta II continue to sail with the convoy.
The warships' tracking devices are turned off, but images from the Italian portal Itamilradar indicate that the frigate, both landing ships, and the tanker are sailing alongside the cargo ships. However, the frigate Admiral Grigorovich is not visible. The tanker Vyazma has detached and is currently located in Alexandria, Egypt.
For several days, this fleet has been accompanied by two Italian aircraft operating in this part of the Mediterranean Sea: the ATR P-72A and the customs service ATR P-72B. It has also been accompanied by the American drone Triton, which is tasked with conducting observation and reconnaissance over a vast maritime area.
