According to the agency, Russian large landing ships Ivan Gren and Aleksandr Otrakovsky, as well as the dry cargo ship Sparta, are scheduled to arrive in the Syrian port on Jan. 5. Two more Russian vessels — the universal cargo vessel Sparta II and the tanker Ivan Skoblev — are expected to arrive on Jan.

Analysis: Assad's ouster has raised Libya's importance for Russia's foreign policy, with Moscow adapting to expand its strategic footprint.

The Italian military tracking website Itamil Radar has reported the landing of a Russian Air Force An-124 aircraft at Al-Khadim Air Base, east of Benghazi, Libya. The aircraft reportedly departed from the Latakia airbase in Syria before arriving in Libya on Thursday.

The Ukrainian military intelligence reports on the preparations by Russians to transfer military equipment from Syria to Libya. The operation is to be carried out from the port of Tartus. "At the naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus,

Russian military cargo ships are reportedly preparing to transfer equipment and weapons.

The Russians intend to move some of the military equipment that currently remains in Syria to the African country of Libya. Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on social media Details: The Russians are reportedly waiting for their warships at the naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus to transport military equipment and weapons.