LONDON: Britain said on Saturday it had tracked in recent days six Russian naval and merchant ships carrying ammunition used in the Syrian Arab Republic as they sailed through the Channel.
The British defense ministry said in a statement the ships — shadowed by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force — were withdrawing from Syria following the ousting of its president, Bashar Assad, a close Russian ally, in December.
Russia has been evacuating its military assets from Syria since Assad’s overthrow, the ministry said, describing it as a “blow to (Moscow’s) ambitions in the Middle East.”
The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
“These ships were retreating from Syria after Putin abandoned his ally Assad, yet they were still armed and full of ammunition,” said defense minister John Healey. “This shows Russia is weakened but remains a threat.”
Russia hopes to retain the use of naval and air bases in Syria under the new Islamist leadership that took power after Assad fled to Moscow following 13 years of civil war in which Russian troops had intervened on his behalf.
Britain’s defense ministry said the withdrawal of ammunition from Syria showed that Russia’s prioritization of its war in Ukraine had affected its capability to keep Assad in power.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Syria’s interim leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Wednesday, the first call between the two men since Assad’s fall.
The Syrian presidency said Putin had invited Syria’s new foreign minister to visit Moscow and had told Sharaa that Moscow was ready to reconsider bilateral deals signed under Assad.
UK tracks Russian ships carrying ammunition from Syrian Arab Republic
https://arab.news/4z6a9
UK tracks Russian ships carrying ammunition from Syrian Arab Republic
- Russia has been evacuating its military assets from Syria since Assad’s overthrow
- “These ships were retreating from Syria after Putin abandoned his ally Assad,” said defense minister John Healey
Norway’s King Harald to stay in hospital to treat infection: doctor
- The king was taken to hospital while on holiday on the Spanish island
- “The infection stems from a skin infection on one of his legs,” the doctor said
OSLO: Norway’s King Harald V will have to stay in hospital in Tenerife for a few days because of leg infection, but the 89-year-old monarch’s health is generally good, his personal doctor said Wednesday.
The king was taken to hospital while on holiday on the Spanish island, suffering from an infection and dehydration.
“The king’s overall health is good and he is responding well to treatment. The infection stems from a skin infection on one of his legs,” the doctor, Bjorn Bendz, said in a royal statement.
“The king will remain in hospital for a few more days for observation and continued treatment,” he added.
Europe’s oldest monarch was admitted to Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur in Tenerife on Tuesday evening. He was on a private visit with his wife, Queen Sonja, 88, and celebrated his latest birthday on Saturday.
“When people who are nearly 90 are admitted to hospital for an infection, it’s a serious situation,” said Bendz.
“It is important that we have a good overview and full control of his state of health before the king can leave hospital — even if his condition is stable at the moment,” he added.
Harald, who has been king since 1991, has suffered health problems in recent years that have forced him to scale back his official schedule. But he has always ruled out abdicating.
During a private trip to Malaysia two years ago, he picked up an infection and was taken to hospital before being flown home after having a pacemaker fitted.
Harald’s health worries come as the Norwegian monarchy is confronting scandals.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who married Harald’s son, Crown Prince Haakon, in 2001, appears multiple times in documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, revealing an unsuspected closeness with the late American sex offender.
Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, is on trial on 38 charges in Oslo, including four rapes and assaults. The 29-year-old, who is not a member of the royal family, denies the most serious charges.
The popularity of the Norwegian royal family has fallen to its lowest level, according to a poll published on Saturday by public broadcaster NRK.
Only 60 percent of the population supports the monarchy — 10 percent less than the previous month. NRK said the support “has never been so low.”
Harald, however, is a popular unifying figure, scoring 9.2 out of 10, the survey suggested.
