JERUSALEM (TheBlaze/AP) -- Israel says it has carried out a joint missile test with the U.S. in the Mediterranean Sea amid heightened tensions as Washington weighs sea-launched strikes against Syria.
A battery of Iron Dome, a short-range missile defence system, is positioned on the outskirts of Tel Aviv on August 30, 2013. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it, together with the U.S. Defense Department, had carried out a "successful test" in the Mediterranean and on an air force base in central Israel.
Russian state-owned news agencies earlier said Russian radar systems had detected two "ballistic objects" fired from the central Mediterranean toward the eastern part of the sea.
But still, there has been confusion as to who exactly is responsible. According to a report by USA Today, the Unite States has not confirmed the joint test with one Pentagon spokesman saying, "I have nothing to confirm those reports whatsoever."
CBS News also reported an official saying no U.S. ships or planes had launched a missile, although that doesn't necessary rule out a "joint" exercise:
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/374829282885124096"]
Despite the test, Israel has been opposed to U.S. intervention in Syria because of the threats Syria has made to strike Israel in retaliation.
The United States, which has warships in the Mediterranean, is considering strikes against Syria for an Aug. 21 alleged chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb.
This story has been updated with more information.
--
[related]