Israel quiet on reports of latest airstrike on Syria

CAIRO -- Israeli officials were silent Saturday about growing reports that it was responsible for an airstrike July 5 that rocked the Syrian port city of Latakia.

If true, it would mark Israel’s fourth attack against Syrian weapons caches this year. Officially the government has declined to comment on the strikes, though officials in Israel and the U.S. have privately confirmed Israel’s involvement.

Asked about reports of the latest strike, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon repeated Israel’s longstanding position that it does not want to interfere in Syria’s civil war, but will take steps to prevent sophisticated weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

“We have set red lines in regards to our own interests, and we keep them,” he said. Israel is believed to be behind similar attacks in January and May.

A Syrian website, Al Hakika, which is seen as close to the Syrian opposition, reported that the attack targeted warehouses for Russian Yakhont anti-ship missiles.

Such missiles would be particularly threatening to Israel’s ability to monitor the Mediterranean Sea and develop lucrative natural gas fields off its coast.

On Friday, CNN quoted three unnamed U.S. officials as saying Israel was behind the strike.

After the last reported Israeli strike in May, the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad warned that it would retaliate against any future attacks. So far Assad has not responded militarily.

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