A number of areas in international waters have been closed in the eastern Mediterranean, near Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus, because of training conducted by Russian naval vessels, including "missile tests".

According to the Interfax news agency, the Russian navy has reported the coordinates of closed areas in front of civil aircraft flights and the passage of naval vessels until September 26 because Russian naval vessels have maneuvers and training in this area, including missile tests.

According to the international rules in force, it entails a notice to international air traffic and maritime traffic, warning sea and air crews of the coordinates of closed areas prohibited from entering or approaching.
It was not known whether the naval maneuvers were related to the crash of the Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft two days ago, the ongoing search for its wreckage and the bodies of 14 military personnel on board.

Russia has concluded, on the eighth of this month, joint exercises between the formations of the Russian Navy and the Russian Air Force in the Mediterranean Sea.