Iran to conduct joint exercises with Syria?

Published time: February 18, 2012 15:21
Edited time: February 18, 2012 19:39
Iranian patrol frigate Alvand transits through the Suez Canal on February 22, 2011. (AFP PHOTO/STR)

An Iranian flotilla has arrived in a Syrian port to provide maritime training to the country’s navy, media reports. It’s only the second time Iranian warships have sailed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean.

The ships have docked in the Syrian port of Tartus some 220 kilometres from the capital. They are due to take part in a joint training exercise with Syrian navy which was organised last year, the Mehr News Agency reports. Syria is the only country in the region which has an agreement on naval cooperation with Iran.

The flotilla belongs to Iran’s 18th fleet and comprises the destroyer Shahid Naqdi and supply ship Khark. Admiral Habibollah Sayari confirmed “for the second time since the Islamic revolution,” its ships passed through the Suez Canal.

Sayari added that the mission was intended to show Tehran's "might" and take a "message of peace and friendship" to the region.

Meanwhile, Iran’s old foe, Israel, is keeping a close eye on the situation.

"We will closely monitor the movement of the two ships to ensure they do not approach the Israeli coast," an Israeli official is quoted by AFP.

Iranian ships passed through the canal for the first time exactly a year ago.

On February 17, 2011, Iran sent its warships to the Mediterranean for a similar training mission with Syria as a part of its campaign to gain "hegemony and control" over the Middle East. Israeli officials called that move a “provocation.”

The Suez Canal allows shipping to pass from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean without going around the southern tip of Africa.

Comments (39)

Sams 19.02.2012 13:23

New World Order wrote in #4
The Beak: The Qatar and Saudi Arabia have always bee in the servants of the British and the U.S. It is Turkey that is playing its usual historical role of always playing in the fascists side and this signals bad omens for the future of Turkey by planting the seeds of mistrust and hatred with Iran and Syria and also Russia will not trust Turkey seriously after this crisis. If Russia and China hold the line and Iran and Syria and calm things down-then Turkey will be one of the losers. There is a grave misunderstanding of Turkey's policies, if anyone analysed it , would clearly understand the reason, which may be related to support of Kurdish Rebels , on the otherhand Qatar, Saudi Arabia, no one need explanation of these barbaric, puppet Govt, which recently come into International surface, winning Olympic football matches in the Qatar is another joke by bribing the members of committee, how the viewers ,or player would  be tetralogy of the heat of hell , or they were monger smoked GrassHopper ,whilst watching the matches.

+10

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Richard (unregistered) 19.02.2012 11:08

I doubt Iran has any international ally at all,I cannot count Russia or China as thei allies as they just want to mak use of Iran to het at USA,the only ally is possibly collapsing Syria President Assad who can hardly look after himself now.It is bad.

0

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maes (unregistered) 19.02.2012 10:46

well after Mubarak fell down in Egypt iran can now passes its navy through Suez and sails near israel like walking ina park now who is becomming isolated israel or iran!? and europe just gets economical harm after harm so who is sanctioned europe or iran !!? and USA that still lives in the atomosphere of WW2 and arrogancy even not let him to help its own people just hitting hammer on the water so who is supressing and oppressing its people US or iran !!!?

+31

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