Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia, in yet another revision of naval exercise plans,
says its warships could dock in Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Russian Navy ships sent to an exercise in the Mediterranean Sea could enter Syria. The ministry said the six warships might be serviced in the Russian Navy base in Tartous, Syria.

“The [naval] command will plan resupplying the ships’ stocks either via support vessels or via Russia’s material and technical support base in Tartous,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Defense Ministry statement on Aug. 3 marked the latest revision of a naval exercise expected to take place with Russia and Syria. Over the last three weeks, Moscow has reported that Russian warships would dock in Syria, then denied such an intention only to reverse itself again.

The ministry issued two statements on Aug. 3. The first one maintained
that the Russian Navy did not plan to to dock in Tartous.

Russia said it would send at least six ships from the Navy’s Baltic and
Northern fleets to the Mediterranean. The Northern flotilla would be led by
the Adm. Kulakov destroyer.

  Adm. Kulakov destroyer, Baltic and Northern fleets, Putin changes his mind again: Flotilla of warships may dock in Syria, Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Navy base in Tartous