The facility was established during the Cold War in accordance with a Soviet–Syrian agreement concluded in 1971, with a view of supporting the Soviet Navy′s 5th Operational Squadron in the Mediterranean, which was meant as a counterbalance to the U.S.′ Sixth Fleet headquartered in Italy (then in Gaeta).[14]
In the early 1970s, similar support points were located in Egypt, Ethiopia (Eritrea), Vietnam and elsewhere. In 1977, the Egyptian support bases at Alexandria and Mersa Matruh were evacuated and the ships and property were transferred to Tartus, where the naval support facility was transformed into the 229th Naval and Estuary Vessel Support Division.
In 1984, the Tartus support point was upgraded to the 720th Material-Technical Support Point.[14]
In December 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved and its Mediterranean 5th Operational Squadron composed of ships from the Northern Fleet, the Baltic Fleet, and the Black Sea Fleet, ceased to exist in December 1992. Since then, there have been occasional deployments by Russian Navy ships and submarines to the Mediterranean Sea.
As Russia forgave Syria 73% of its $13.4 billion Soviet-era debt in 2005[19] and became its main arms supplier, Russia and Syria held talks about allowing Russia to develop and enlarge its naval facility, so that Russia could strengthen its naval presence in the Mediterranean.[20] Amid Russia's deteriorating relations with the West, because of the 2008 South Ossetia War and plans to deploy a US missile defense shield in Poland, an unsourced article said that President Assad reportedly agreed to the port’s conversion into a permanent Middle East base for Russia’s nuclear-armed warships.[21]
In September 2008, a second floating pier was built at the facility, following the discussion of the issue between presidents of Russia and Syria in August.[14] Meanwhile, mass media and officials of Russia, Israel, and Syria were making contradictory statements about Russian warships planning to call at Tartus as well as about the prospects of upgrading the facility to a naval base.[22]
In July 2009, the Russian military announced they would modernise the Tartus facility.[23]
During the Syrian Civil War prior to Russian intervention
See also: Syrian Civil War
Media reports in March 2012 suggested that Russian special forces had arrived at the Tartus port.[24] According to a TASS report published in December 2017, the Tartus facility has been used for supplies of Russian armaments and military cargo since June 2012.[14] Back in June 2012, Russian officials denied reports that they were reinforcing the garrison at Tartus with marines.[25] About 50 Russian sailors and specialist technicians were said to be stationed there then.[26]
In July 2012, Russian Navy commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov said that should the personnel at the facility be in danger they would be evacuated if the Russian president ordered it.[27]
On 3 August 2012, international media reported that three large Russian amphibious assault ships, carrying hundreds of Marines would soon visit Tartus. Earlier reports, quoting a source at the Russian General Staff, said the ships would spend a few days in Tartus and would take on fresh supplies of food and water. British media added that the ships each had up to 120 Marines on board. The Russian defence ministry left open the possibility that the ships might dock there at some point for logistical reasons, saying they had every right to do so. The General Staff source, who was not named, had said that after calling in at Tartus, they would head for the Bosphorus and the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.[28][29] The ships, part of Russia's Northern Fleet, were Aleksandr Otrakovskiy, Georgiy Pobedonosets and Kondopoga, all Ropucha-class landing ships. The source, quoted by Interfax news agency, said one would anchor off Tartus and the other two would use a floating pier, because the port facilities were limited. There was speculation that Russia may begin evacuating its nationals from Syria and deploy Marines to protect personnel and equipment, as the violence intensifies (about 30,000 Russian citizens were said to be living in Syria).[28][30]
In May 2013, a U.S. newspaper reported that Russia had sent a dozen or more warships to patrol waters near Tartus, a move that was seen as a warning to the U.S. and Israel not to intervene in the conflict in Syria.[31]
At the end of June 2013, Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov said in an interview that the facility did not have any strategic or military importance and that Russia had evacuated all civilian and military personnel from Tartus and Syria (″Presently, the Russian Defense Ministry has not a single person stationed in Syria″).[32][33] This information was then confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry.[32]
After the Operational formation of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea was formed in September 2013, the facility at Tartus was charged with servicing and repairs of the ships of that formation.[14]
