Satellite images of the Tartus port in Syria have revealed that between 18 and 27 January, the Russian forces began transporting military equipment collected at the port onto ships operated by Russia's Ministry of Defence.

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,

Syria’s new authorities have terminated an agreement with Russia’s Stroytransgaz to manage the Tartus port, Kommersant reports.

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.

Judging by satellite images, two Russian ships of Sparta and Sparta II have docked near the Russian naval base in Syria's Tartus. According to experts, this could mean that the evacuation of the Russian contingent, which had been expected, has finally begun, BBC reported.

The new Syrian authorities have canceled an investment agreement with a Russian company on the management of the port of Tartus on The Mediterranean Sea, the director of Tartus Customs, Riyad Judy, told Al-Watan.

The Syrian government has reportedly terminated an agreement with Russian company Stroytransgaz, ending its management of the Tartus seaport.

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