Russian ships with military gear headed toward Syria

Russian warships carrying armored tanks and ground support vehicles have been seen en route to Syria, apparently in response to Friday's U.S.-led coalition airstrikes that took out three suspected chemical weapons sites.

One ship was spotted on its way to Russian naval base at Tartus on the north Syrian coast. Eleven ships were believed to have left the area to avoid the impending strikes.

The ship had been deployed three previous times and now can be seen loaded with tanks, trucks, ambulances and a bomb radar.

The RoRo Alexandr Tkachenko was also seen headed for Tartus with high-speed patrol boats, trucks and bridge boats. The photos were posted on social media by Bosphorus-based naval observer Yörük Işik.

Prior to the sightings, Russian hunter-killer submarines known as 'Black Hole' chased British Astute-class submarines for several days along with two frigates in support and anti-submarine aircraft.

It appears that Russia, while failing to respond to the U.S.-led surgical assault on Syrian chemical weapons facilities, is trying to flex its military muscles and may be preparing for something far worse than showing off.


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