Iranian warships delivered arms for Hezbollah to Syrian port

Two Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal on Feb 22, easily entered the Mediterranean Sea, and anchored at Syrian port Latakia, reports Iranian agency IRNA. The ships delivered "most advanced arms" for Hezbollah, reports Kuwaiti news agency KUNA referring to Israeli newspaper Maariv. 

In particular, undisclosed sources reported that the ships had carried various missiles, rifles, ammunition, and night vision devices. 

With its theatrical cruise via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, Iran tries to evade arms embargo laid on Hezbollah. 

Iran’s naval warships enter Suez Canal first time in 3 decades

Iran's naval warships enter Suez Canal first time in 3 decades

Two Iranian naval warships entered the Suez Canal this Tuesday, en route to the Mediterranean. Israel, which views Iran as a threat, has already called the move a 'provocation'. Iranian officials say the frigate and supply vessel are headed to Syria for a year-long training mission. It's the first time Iran's military ships have sailed those waters since the country's Islamic revolution of 1979. Egypt's Defence ministry says Iran's request stated the vessels would have no military equipment or nuclear materials onboard.

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Iranian navy ships enter Suez Canal

Two Iranian naval ships entered the Suez Canal on Tuesday, a canal source said, en route to Syria on a purported training mission that Israel regards as a provocation.

"The two ships entered the Canal on Tuesday at around 5:45 am (0335 GMT), the official said. A normal journey through the stretch takes between 12 and 14 hours.

The patrol frigate Alvand and support ship Kharg were the first Iranian warships through Suez since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and are reportedly bound for Syria, a destination that necessarily involves passing Israel.

Passage of Iranian warships through Suez Canal postponed to Wednesday

Passage of two Iranian ships through the Suez Canal was postponed for 48 hours, reports Reuters referring to the canal administration. 

Iranian frigate and supply vessel were supposed to pass the canal at 6 am on Monday. 

Iranian governmental TV channel Al-Alam reported on Sunday that the ships had passed the Suez Canal and were moving towards Syrian port, although the canal administration refuted this information. 

Iranian warships to pass through the Suez Canal

Two Iranian warships are on their way to the Suez Canal with the view to pass it through, reported Thursday Iran's governmental TV channel Press TV referring to the national navy. 

According to the representative of Iranian Navy, official Tehran had discussed the forthcoming passage with Egyptian agencies authorized to allow naval ships passing the canal, and received no objections. 

Earlier on, Reuters quoted representative of Suez Canal administration Ahmed Al-Manahli saying that Iranian warships had not passed the canal on Thursday and were not in the Friday's passage list. 

Syrian ports will accommodate Iranian warships

Israeli political and military leadership displayed a serious concern over reports of Iran's intentions to station its warships in Syrian ports, reported Iranian Navy's command. 

According to MIGnews, Iranian warships are about to reach the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and stay in Syrian territorial waters "for at least a year". Iran gradually expands military presence beyond zones of its direct national interests. Iranian task force has been actively operating off Yemen in the Aden Gulf for the recent two years. The excuse is "anti-piracy activities", but really Iran secures arms supply routes and supports its Shiah allies fighting against Yemeni and Saudi governments. 

Iranian warships coming to Mediterranean and Red Seas

Less than 24 hours after the breakdown of its nuclear dialogue with the six world powers in Istanbul, Iran announced plans Sunday, Jan. 23, to senda fleet of warships, including a home-made destroyer, on operational and intelligence-gathering missions to the Red Sea and on to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.  DEBKA file's military sources: Parts of the fleet will in fact be deployed in the three waters around Israel's southern and western shores.

Tehran is taking advantage of the lack of military and diplomatic momentum on the part of US and Israel for a naval thrust to expand its range of operations and encroach on their areas of control.

It is also a rapid response to the arrival of the USS Enterprise carrier with a strike group carrying 6,000 sailors and marines and 80 warplanes in the Mediterranean at the end of last week on its way to the Arabian Sea opposite Iran. British ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair's call on the West to stop apologizing and react to Iran with force was not lost on the rulers of the Islamic Republic.

The Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari spoke of three or four vessels including Iran's first home-made destroyer, Jamaran, with back-up operational units standing by for urgent support missions.

His deputy, Rear-Admiral Gholam Reza Bi-Gham said the deployment would last about a year and at some future time, long-distance submarines would join the fleet.