The fifth US guided missile destroyer, USStout, is to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean near Syria later Thursday, US media reported.

USStout was originally intended to relieve one of the four destroyers already in the area, said WTKR-TV, which serves the Norfolk, Va. area, where the ship was based.

However, due to the rapidly evolving situation in Syria, the Navy has delayed the departure of the relieved ship, which means the four destroyers, USGravely, USMahan, USBarry and USRamage, will all remain in the Mediterranean Sea, the report said.

All five destroyers have cruise missile capabilities.

Reports have indicated President Barack Obama could order a limited military strike against Syrian targets, utilizing Tomahawk cruise missiles aboard the destroyers.

In addition to the destroyers, US Navy also has two aircraft carriers near Syria -- USHarry S. Truman and USNimitz both in the Gulf region. USTruman was initially scheduled to relieve USNimitz, but reports quoted defense sources as saying the departure of USNimitz has been delayed.