Iranian media report that two Iranian navy ships have docked in the Syrian port of Tartous on a reported mission to provide training to Syrian naval forces.
The move has raised concerns in Israel, which said on February 19 that it would watch the Iranian warships "very closely" in case they approach Israeli waters.
The Iranian vessels, including a destroyer and a supply ship, arrived at Syria's Tartous port on February 17 after passing through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean.
According to Iran's state-run English-language Press TV, the maritime training will be conducted under an agreement signed by the allied Iranian and Syrian governments a year ago.
The arrival of the Iranian ships comes with the Syrian regime facing international condemnation over its bloody crackdown on opposition protesters.
Compiled from agency reports