Russia withdraws its only submarine from Tartus, Syria, as Mediterranean presence wanes

Portuguese Navy aircraft tracked and recorded the submarine's passage through Gibraltar, publishing images on January 4, 2025.  Defense Express notes that this indicates that Russia currently has no submarines in the Mediterranean, which is a significant development.

The B-261 Novorossiysk had been the only submarine in Russia’s operational group based in Syria’s Tartus in late 2024 and early 2025. 

“Historically, Russia has always aimed to maintain at least one submarine in the region as part of its naval presence. If Russia does not rotate in another submarine to Tartus, it will suggest that the country is preparing to withdraw from this naval base. The reasoning is straightforward: due to technical issues, Russian submarines typically spend more time in port than on active patrol. Therefore, if there are no submarines left in Tartus, it likely signals that Russia does not intend to maintain a long-term presence there,” Defense Express adds.

• On the night of Monday, December 16, Israeli aviation struck military targets in the coastal Syrian city of Tartus, where a Russian military base is located.