A four-ship Russian squadron led by nuclear-armed Peter the Great plans a call at Tripoli, Libya, and Middle East ports in coming days, sources say.

The ships eventually will head out to the Caribbean for joint maneuvers with Venezuela, the sources said.

DEBKAfile said military sources report that one of those ports for the Russian flotilla is Tartus,

Syria. Further, Peter the Great may anchor at the new facility the Russians are building at Syria's

second major port, Latakia.

A navy spokesman in Moscow said the Russian warships will perform maneuvers in the Mediterranean, pass through the Strait of Gibraltar on Sunday, visit Tripoli and put in at a Syria port on Wednesday or Thursday