JERUSALEM — Israeli officials are refusing to confirm reports that the country's military carried out an airstrike this month in Syria, only saying that the Jewish state is determined to act against weapons shipments to Syria that Israel views as a threat.
U.S. officials told the New York Times in a report published Sunday that Israel targeted advanced anti-ship cruise missiles near the Syrian port city of Latakia on July 5.
Speaking to The Associated Press on Sunday, Israeli Tourism Minister Uzi Landau refused to confirm or deny the report.
Instead, Landau reiterated the Israeli government position that its military would take action to stop sophisticated weapons — including the Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missiles reportedly targeted — from reaching Syria or its proxies, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group.
