Russia intensifies naval exercises off Syrian coast - sources

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has stepped up naval training exercises off the Syrian coast in recent months and is preparing to hold more drills, according to several sources, behaviour likely to fuel U.S. assertions that Moscow is building up its forces in the region.

A squadron of five Russian naval ships, equipped with guided missiles, has set off to conduct manoeuvres in Syrian territorial waters, including possibly firing rockets, a source close to the Russian navy told Reuters on Friday.