[ClearCase_guy]

Absolutely. But the question is: Has Russia begun beefing up their position?

[meatloaf]

AFAIK, the closest Russian forces other than Tartus are near Sevestapol on the Black Sea. Russia really doesn’t have much to build up.

[Gen.Blather]

“But the question is: Has Russia begun beefing up their position?”

They’ve moved several ships and attack aircraft. Also, Syria’s air defenses are being controlled (or were) by three Russian radar ships. I’ve read they’ve moved marines (their equivalent) into the area to “protect Russian civilians.”

The danger here is that somebody spoofs an attack from either Russia or the USA on the other.

[Sacajaweau]

Let’s be real...They don’t have to beef up their position. They live next door.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Currently the only Russian ship at their base in Tartus, Syria is the Amur-class floating workshop (similar to a US Navy destroyer tender) PM-138, which is stationed there to support the ships currently assigned to the Med.

Right now there are two destroyers, three medium-sized amphibs, seven support ships, and an unknown number of submarines operating in the area. If things start to get really troublesome, they might deploy their Black Sea Fleet, which has two cruisers, one destroyer, two frigates, and thirteen corvettes. A number of these ships are armed with the SS-N-22 Sunburn ramjet anti-ship missile. A wave-hugger with a speed in excess of Mach-3, this missile was designed to cripple US carriers and kill just about anything else.

The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetzov and its escorts are scheduled to return to the Med before the end of the year.