Newsmax:

Russia Sends Warships to Syria

Russia announced it has dispatched a flotilla of 11 warships to the eastern Mediterranean with some scheduled to dock in Syria.

The move, reports The New York Times, would be "the largest display of Russian military power in the region since the Syrian conflict began almost 17 months ago."
Syria is Russia’s last ally in the Middle East and home to Tartus, its only foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union.

The announcement also came a day after Russia said it was halting new shipments of weapons to the Syrian military until the conflict settled down.

While Russia has sent ships on maneuvers to the area in the past, the show of force -- with ships carrying hundreds of marines -- appears intended to send the West a message.

The unusually large size of the force may be a message to the United States in particular, and those governments supporting the rebels trying to depose Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.

FARS:

Iran, Russia, China, Syria to Stage Biggest Joint Wargames in Middle-East

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian, Russian, Chinese and Syrian armies are due to stage joint amphibious exercises along the Syrian costs in coming weeks, informed sources revealed on Monday.

According to informed sources, 90,000 forces from the four countries will take part in the land and sea wargames due to be held in Syria.

Ground, air and sea forces as well as air defense and missile units of the four countries will take part in the exercises.

Sources also said that Egypt has acceded to grant passage to 12 Chinese warships to sail through the Suez Canal, adding that the military convoy is due to dock at the Syrian harbors in the next two weeks.

Russian atomic submarines and warships, aircraft carriers and mine-clearing destroyers as well as Iranian battleships and submarines will also arrive in Syria at around the same date.

Syria plans to test its coast-to-sea and air defense missiles in the wargames.

A sum of 400 warplanes and 1,000 tanks will also be used in the exercises.

A Syrian official, who asked to remain anonymous, had informed two weeks ago that the drills would be conducted in Syria soon.

Unofficial sources also said the four countries are now busy with taking swift preparatory measures for these biggest-ever wargames in the Middle-East.

Sham Life reported that the maneuvers will be stage in less than one month from now, that is early June.