The Russians have kept a squad of their warships in the Mediterranean for years. It operates from the Syrian port of Tartus, where the MW of Russia has its 720th Material-Technical safety Point. It is part of the Military Group (Sil) of the Russian Armed Forces in the Syrian arabian Republic. It besides includes the 555th Aviation Group, whose aircraft and helicopters support Syrian government forces' military activities. The squad of ships itself is organized in Operations Command in the Further Maritime Zone.