Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The Russian Navy has sent warships to Syria.

The Russian Navy has sent at least three ships led by the Admiral
Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to the Syrian port of Tartous.

The naval delegation was led by Cmdr. Yakushin Vladimir Anatolievich in what was reported to have been a non-combat mission in the eastern Mediterranean.

“The arrival of the Russian vessels to Syria is to shorten the distance between the two countries and enhance the friendship between them,” the official Syrian Arab News Agency said on Jan. 8.

The Syrian news agency did not report the number of Russian ships that anchored off Tartous, the only full-time Russian naval port outside Russia.

Anatolievich is said to have met Syrian officials, including Tartous Gov. Atef Al Nadaf, during the six-day visit.

This marked the first Russian Navy visit to Syria since the revolt
against President Bashar Assad in March 2011.

In November, Moscow delivered
coastal defense systems as well as long-range surface-to-surface rockets to
the Syrian military.

  Admiral Kuznetsov, arrives in Syria, Bashar Assad, Cmdr. Yakushin Vladimir Anatolievich, Gov. Atef Al Nadaf, including aircraft carrier, Russian Navy, Tartous