The guided missile submarine USS Florida pulls into the Bay of Naples, Italy in this file photo taken in the Mediterranean Sea on March 4, 2011 and released to Reuters on March 19, 2011. (PHOTO / HANDOUT VIA  REUTERS)

The US Navy said on Saturday a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine was operating in the Middle East in support of the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet.

The USS Florida entered the region on Thursday and began transiting the Suez Canal, Commander Timothy Hawkins said in a statement.

This US Navy handout photo released Jan 28, 2003 shows USS Florida launching a Tomahawk cruise missile during Giant Shadow Jan 14, 2003 in the waters off the coast of the Bahamas. (PHOTO / US NAVY VIA AFP)

"It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to US 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability," Hawkins said.