BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 P.M.) – The Russian Navy was photographed on Monday transiting the Bosphorus Strait that links the Black and Mediterranean seas.

According to maritime observer Yoruk Isik, the heavily laden ВМФ Project 775 of the Black Sea Fleet 197th Landing Ship Brigade’s Ropucha class LSTM (tank carrying landing ship) Novocherkassk 142 entered the Mediterranean on Monday to deliver more equipment to the Port of Tartous in western Syria.

You don’t see Spetsnaz but Spetsnaz sees you: #ВМФ #ЧФ Black Sea Fleet 197th Landing Ship Brigade’s Ropucha class LSTM Novocherkassk 142 transited Bosphorus towards Mediterranean en route to #Tartus #Syria 14:00Z. My pix via @reuterspictures pic.twitter.com/57zYItqykx — Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) March 2, 2020

Monday’s delivery comes just days after the Turkish military carried out a large-scale attack against the Syrian Armed Forces in the Idlib, Aleppo, and Latakia governorates of northwestern Syria.

Since then, however, the Syrian air defenses have been deployed to northwestern Syria to prevent any further attacks from the Turkish military.