Russian Frigate Heads for Syria

03.04.2012 Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Smetlivy set a course for Bosporus and Dardanelles straits last weekend and will be deployed off Syria, reported RIA Novosti referring to a military diplomat.

"The ship will pay a formal call at Syrian port Tartus where Russian Navy has a technical maintenance center", said the interviewee.

Earlier on, BSF Press Secretary Capt 1 rank Vyacheslav Trukhachev told that the frigate was heading for the Mediterranean Sea, although he did not disclose any details. As was reported by Vzglyad, Russian Navy's carrier group recently visited Tartus port.

Syrian media called that event an act of solidarity between Moscow and Damascus.

The task force led by aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov started deployment early in Dec 2011. Northern Fleet's mariners had successfully accomplished all tasks within the interfleet group in the Mediterranean Sea.