A newspaper reports that U.S. officials say Israel targeted advanced anti-ship cruise missiles near Syria’s principal port city in an air attack carried out earlier this month.
The New York Times reports that the U.S. officials say the attack on July 5 near Latakia targeted a type of Russian-made missile called the Yakhont. The officials tell the Times that Russia had sold the missiles to the Syrian government.
The officials are not providing details on the strike, including the extent of the damage and how many missiles were used. The Times reports that the officials decline to be identified because they are discussing intelligence reports.
Israel maintains it’s not involved in Syria’s two-year-old civil war except to stop weapons transfers.
The Times posted the report on its website Saturday night.
Israel’s prime minister insisted Sunday that he will not allow “dangerous weapons” to reach Lebanon’s Hizbollah militants, following reports that Israel recently carried out an airstrike in northern Syria against a shipment of advanced missiles.
