Israeli military confirms it hit Syrian nuclear site

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL » The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday it carried out the 2007 airstrike in Syria that destroyed what was believed to be a nuclear reactor, lifting the veil of secrecy over one of its most daring and mysterious operations in recent memory.

Although Israel was widely believed to have been behind the Sept. 6, 2007, airstrike, it has never before commented publicly.

In a lengthy release, the military revealed eight F-15 fighter jets carried out the top-secret airstrikes against the facility in the Deir elZour region, about 300 miles northeast of Damascus, destroying a site that had been in development for years and was scheduled to go into operation at the end of that year.

Israel’s involvement was one of its most closely held secrets, and it was not immediately clear why Israel decided to go public. The military would not comment on its reasoning. It could be meant as a warning to enemy Iran, deeply involved in Syria’s conflict.