(Image source: Turner)

BY LUKE LEONARD/ EVAN BUSH

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

As Syrian unrest continues to escalate, some international media sources say a Civil War could be ion the horizon for the country.

And now, the Syrian government’s ally, Iran, has docked warships in the country -- it says, to train the Syrian Navy. It’s a move likely to bristle countries like Israel and the United States who have called for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to step down. Fox News has the details.

“...they are projecting themselves militarily, sending two destroyers through the straight of the Suez Canal parking them in a Syrian port as you just mentioned to show support for the Assad regime carrying out those land-based military exercises.”

So why did the ships port in Syria? A writer for the Pakistan Observer says the move was meant to quote “... show its military strength thus giving a message that it is not scared ...” (Video: PakObserver)

And a professor of international affairs who spoke to Al Jazeera says Iran is drawing a line in the sand -- and making it clear that it’s with Syria --

"The first one is that 'yes, we are powerful and we can close the Strait of Hormuz if you impose sanctions on us'. And secondly, 'we stand with our ally'."
(Video: Al Jazeera)

If history is any indication, Israel will not react kindly to the move. The Telegraph notes... 

“The first time Iran sent warships into the Mediterranean, in February 2011, it provoked strong reactions from Israel and the United States, with the Jewish state putting its navy on alert.”

Israel said it would closely follow Iranian movements. The ships’ movement comes at a particularly prickly time for relations between Iran and Israel. Iran recently announced it had made progress with its nuclear program; meanwhile, some speculate Israel could bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.

And although Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham called for the US to arm the Syrian rebels -- CNN reports that’s not happening just yet.

“The Pentagon’s highest military officer says the US is not considering sending help to Syria’s armed rebels until it’s got a better idea of who the rebels are.”

China and Russia’s support of the Syria government has prevented the UN from intervening in Syria. As Businessweek reports, The UN estimates more than 5,400 Syrians died last year. Saudi Arabia estimates the current toll at about 7,000.