Iranian and Syrian naval authorities have signed a bilateral cooperation protocol for joint training programs

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and his Syrian counterpart General Taleb al-Barri inked a bilateral cooperation protocol for joint training programs aboard Iran's supply vessel Khark in Syria's Latakia Port.

Khark along with another Iranian ship, Alvand, docked at the Syria port following their passage through the Suez Canal, a strategic international shipping route in Egypt, for the first time since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979.

Tehran has announced that the two Iranian warships in Lattakia are “on a routine and friendly visit and carry the message of peace and friendship to world countries.”

The Syrian Navy commander and his deputies also toured the two Iranian ships on Friday.

The 1,500-ton patrol frigate Alvand is armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, while the larger 33,000-ton supply vessel Khark has 250 crewmembers and can carry three helicopters.

Also on Friday, Rear Admiral Sayyari along with other Iranian naval authorities as well as Iran's ambassador to Syria Ahmad Mousavi attended a banquet hosted by Syrian Navy officials. Iran's Navy commander is on a six-day official visit to Syria heading a delegation of naval authorities.