Lavrov confirms Russian ships remain at Tartus base
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has clarified that rumors regarding Russian ships departing from the Tartus base in Syria are inaccurate. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Russian military exercises have been ongoing in the Mediterranean Sea, as emphasized by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He stated that Russian ships remained at the Tartus base following a surprise offensive by jihadists against the Syrian government.
Lavrov suggested that media speculation might stem from misunderstandings related to the ongoing exercises. He noted, “Military exercises are being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps the satellite images were mistaken for something else,” while addressing inquiries regarding conclusions drawn from satellite imagery. These remarks were made after his discussions with the Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers in Qatar on Sunday.
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Iran, and Russia convened in Doha on Saturday to address the rapid advance of rebels in Syria. Russia has been involved in the Syrian conflict since 2015, playing a key role in delivering significant defeats to various terrorist organizations, including al-Nusra and the Islamic State. The country continues to maintain a notable military presence in Syria, with bases located in Hmeimim and Tartus.
The military drills in question took place in early December and were reported by the Russian Defense Ministry to involve the Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces from December 1 to 3.
Recently, the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an offshoot of Jabhat al-Nusra, along with its allies, executed a surprise offensive against Syrian government forces, quickly pushing the Syrian Army out of Aleppo and advancing towards Hama and Homs en route to Damascus. In response, the Syrian military has redeployed forces to vulnerable areas, supported by Russian airstrikes.
According to the Associated Press, terrorist elements reportedly managed to breach these defenses and reach the outskirts of Damascus this past Saturday, marking the first time since 2015 that jihadists have approached the capital. In light of these developments, President Bashar Assad has pledged to "eliminate terrorists" responsible for the attacks on the country and to hold accountable their "sponsors and supporters," amid reports suggesting that militants received training from Ukrainian military intelligence.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Lavrov suggested that media speculation might stem from misunderstandings related to the ongoing exercises. He noted, “Military exercises are being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps the satellite images were mistaken for something else,” while addressing inquiries regarding conclusions drawn from satellite imagery. These remarks were made after his discussions with the Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers in Qatar on Sunday.
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Iran, and Russia convened in Doha on Saturday to address the rapid advance of rebels in Syria. Russia has been involved in the Syrian conflict since 2015, playing a key role in delivering significant defeats to various terrorist organizations, including al-Nusra and the Islamic State. The country continues to maintain a notable military presence in Syria, with bases located in Hmeimim and Tartus.
The military drills in question took place in early December and were reported by the Russian Defense Ministry to involve the Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces from December 1 to 3.
Recently, the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an offshoot of Jabhat al-Nusra, along with its allies, executed a surprise offensive against Syrian government forces, quickly pushing the Syrian Army out of Aleppo and advancing towards Hama and Homs en route to Damascus. In response, the Syrian military has redeployed forces to vulnerable areas, supported by Russian airstrikes.
According to the Associated Press, terrorist elements reportedly managed to breach these defenses and reach the outskirts of Damascus this past Saturday, marking the first time since 2015 that jihadists have approached the capital. In light of these developments, President Bashar Assad has pledged to "eliminate terrorists" responsible for the attacks on the country and to hold accountable their "sponsors and supporters," amid reports suggesting that militants received training from Ukrainian military intelligence.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
