Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia has reported plans to send a naval force to Syria to
protect against the Sunni revolt.

The Russian Navy was said to be planning to sail two amphibious assault
ships to the Syrian port of Tartous.

Tartous, the only foreign base of the Russian Navy, contains about 600 personnel, assigned to provide repair, overhaul and logistics to the Black Sea fleet.

“Two major amphibious ships — the Nikolai Filchenkov and the Tsezar Kunikov — are preparing to be dispatched to Tartous outside of their schedule,” an unidentified senior Russian Navy officer said.

On June 18, the naval officer was quoted by Russia’s Interfax news
agency as saying the two warships would protect the Russian presence in Syria. More than 10,000 Russians were said to be working for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The report by Interfax came three days after the Kremlin denied plans to send weapons to the Assad regime. At the time, the Russian Navy denied reports of warships heading for Syria.

But Russian sources said the Kremlin feared a Sunni rebel attack on
Tartous. They said the rebels have expanded operations to Syria’s
Mediterranean coast in an attempt to strike the Alawite heartland and
facilitate the smuggling of weapons and fighters from the sea.

Interfax said the two Russian Navy ships would contain what was termed a
large group of marines. Tsezar Kunikov was designed to transport 150 troops
and main battle tanks. The Nikolai Filchenkov was said to be able to
transport up to 1,500 tons of equipment.

“The crews of the Nikolai Filchenkov and the Tsezar Kunikov and SB-15
rescue tug together with marines on board are able to ensure security of
Russian nationals and evacuate part of the property of the logistical
support base if need be,” a Russian source told Interfax.

  Kremlin, port of Tartous, Russia to deploy amphibious assault ships to protect nationals in Syria, Sunni rebels, the Nikolai Filchenkov and the Tsezar Kunikov