TEHRAN -- Two Iranian naval ships sailed through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, according to Iranian state TV.
The vessels became the first Iranian naval ships to pass through the strategic waterway since Iran's 1979 revolution, Sky News reported.
The two ships passed through the canal and were heading for Syria, Reuters reported, citing Iran's Al Alam state TV.
Earlier, Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said Iran's plan to send the ships through the canal en route to Syria was a "provocation." Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Israel was following the movements of the ships closely, "although it does not believe the Iranian vessels have hostile intentions toward Israel."
Egyptian authorities indicated they had no legal grounds on which to deny authorization to the ships -- a frigate and a combat support ship.