Russian naval convoy's secretive arms mission in the Mediterranean
The Russian ship Sparta IV, sailing along the Iberian Peninsula is transporting weapons to Syria, reports Portuguese television SIC.
The Russian cargo ship Sparta IV, belonging to the Russian navy, is transporting armaments and "additional equipment" to Syria - reports Lisbon television SIC, citing Ukrainian intelligence services that confirmed the presence of weapons on board the vessel.
Sparta IV set sail for the Mediterranean Sea after a stop off the coast of Portugal, caused by a fuel line engine failure. The ship's crew carried out the repairs independently, allowing the journey to continue.
Observation by Portuguese forces
The Portuguese air force reported that the freighter is accompanied by three other Russian vessels: Aleksandr Otrakovski, Ivan Gren, and Bawenit.
These ships were observed by the crews of two Portuguese warships and a helicopter as they spent over 60 hours in waters under Portuguese jurisdiction.
