A halt to grain supplies to Syria due to uncertainty over the new government and payment delays has been put in place by Russia, according to sources in the two countries involved.

Navigation data showed that two ships carrying Russian grain destined for Syria, have not reached their destination.

Russia the world’s largest grain exporter, has been a key supporter of Bashar al-Assad and has supplied Syria through complex financial and logistical arrangements, circumventing Western sanctions imposed on both Syria and Russia.