Two Russian military transport ships were scheduled to transit through the Dardenelles Strait Tuesday, on their way to their expected destination, the Syrian port of Tartous, a U.S. official said.
And U.S. officials said they were aware of reports that Russia may be preparing to send ships and military personnel to help secure a Russian naval base at the Syrian city of Tartous.
Officials from the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation plan to go on a mission led by the Syrian government to the provinces of Homs, Hama, Tartous, Latakia, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Rif Damashq and Daraa to assess humanitarian needs.