Military confirms strike on Syrian nuclear site in 2007

TELAVIV, ISRAEL » The Israeli military confirmed 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 operations in recent memory.

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

The military revealed that eight F-15 fighter jets carried out the topsecret airstrikes against the facility in the Deir el-Zour 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 has been one of its most closely held secrets. It was not clear why Israel went public now. The military had no comment, but it may involve the upcoming memoir of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who ordered the strike.