Satellite imagery shows clear indications that Russia’s increasingly anticipated withdrawal of forces from its Tartus naval base in Syria has finally started. Complete loss of access to the facility,

The images confirm the withdrawal of Russian military equipment from Tartus port. They show the loading of military equipment onto the cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II, operated by the logistical arm of Russia’s Defense Ministry.

Assad, the Russian-backed dictator of Syria, has resulted in Russia needing to evacuate its military contingent from the country. To achieve this, alongside airlifting its most valuable equipment, Russia has dispatched ships to Syria to remove the remaining assets.

The European Union renewed its wide-ranging sanctions on Russia on Monday for another six months after Hungary stopped holding up the move in return for assurances about energy security. "Europe delivers: EU Foreign Ministers just agreed to extend again the sanctions on Russia,

European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to extend sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine after Hungary lifted its opposition to the move.