Russia is preparing to move warships into Syrian waters, according to reports in Israeli newspaper H’aaretz.

The move was allegedly announced by a Syrian news agency. It has not been confirmed at the time of writing.

The warships are reportedly being readied as Moscow sends a message that Russia is opposed to international intervention putting an end to disturbances in Syria. Russia used a UN Security Council veto in October to block a resolution that would have condemned Syria’s President Bashir Assad for the violence.