A delegation headed by Commander in Chief of the Iranian Naval Forces Habibollah Sattari arrived last night to Syria to attend a ceremony dedicated to the arrival of two Iranian ships at the Syrian port of Latakia, the IRNA news agency reported on Thursday.
A welcoming ceremony will be held this morning.
Three military helicopters and anti-ship missiles will be stationed at the "Alvand" military frigate, holding 1,500 tons. The second "Kharg" ship, holding 33 tons, is designed for oil-related cargo transportation.
The total number of crew members on both ships is 250 people.
In response to Israel's fears about the passage of Iran's ships through the Suez Canal, Sattari said the purpose of the Iranian ships arriving to Syria is "to convey a message of peace and friendship to all countries of the world."
On Tuesday, Feb. 22, two Iranian warships ended their passage through the Suez Canal, and moved into the Mediterranean Sea.
The passage of the Iranian ships into the Mediterranean Sea has caused Israel's concern. The ships are heading to Syria, with which Israel is formally at war. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called this military campaign a "provocation, which demonstrates that the Iranians' self-confidence and impudence is growing every day."
Iranian ships had not passed through the Suez Canal since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The passage of the ships through the canal was carried out under the annual training of Iranian warships, which Iranian media reported in January.
The Suez Canal is one of the world's major transportation arteries, through which 45-50 ships pass daily from Europe to Asia and back.