The Syrian state news agency SANA has claimed that the country's navy conducted a wide-ranging land, air and sea exercise on Saturday, even as government troops attempt to put down a resilient and spreading rebellion throughout the country, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The navy completed a "live fire exercise ... using missiles launched from the sea and coast, helicopters and missile boats, simulating a scenario of repelling a sudden attack from the sea," SANA reported. It said the navy managed to repel the "hypothetical attack".

The training was attended by Defence Minister Dawood Rahja, the deputy commander in chief of the armed forces, SANA said. 

It comes days after the reported defection of Manaf Tlass, the highest-ranking military figure to yet abandon the regime. Tlass was a brigadier general in the elite Republican Guard and a close friend of President Bashar al-Assad. His whereabouts are currently unknown.