MOSCOW (AFP) - Two rockets whose launch was detected by Russia earlier on Tuesday splashed down into the sea and may have been fired from a United States naval vessel for the purposes of weather reconnaissance, a Russian military source told the Interfax news agency.

"The rockets... could have been fired from an American ship in the Mediterranean. Given that it seems the rockets fell into the sea, the task of the launch could have been taking a precise reading of the weather conditions," the source told the agency.

A Syrian security source quoted by the state RIA Novosti news agency also confirmed that there were two launches, but also said the suspected missiles fell into the sea.