(Washington,  D.C.) — “Israel tested a U.S.-backed missile system in the Mediterranean on Tuesday but did not announce the launch in advance, prompting a disclosure by Russia that kept the world on edge as the United States weighed an attack on Syria,” Reuters reported. “The morning launch was first reported by Moscow media that quoted Russian defense officials as saying two ballistic ‘objects’ had been fired eastward from the center of the sea — roughly in the direction of Syria.”

“The news ruffled financial markets until Israel’s Defence Ministry said that it, along with a Pentagon team, had carried out a test-launch of a Sparrow missile,” noted Reuters. “The Sparrow, which simulates the long-range missiles of Syria and Iran, is used for target practice by Israel’s U.S.-backed ballistic shield Arrow….Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon shrugged off a question from reporters on whether the launch might have been ill-timed. He said Israel had to work to maintain its military edge and ‘this necessitates field trials and, accordingly, a successful trial was conducted to test our systems. And we will continue to develop and to research and to equip the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) with the best systems in the world.’ Arrow designer Uzi Rabin said tests of the anti-missile system are planned ‘long, long in advance’ and generally go unnoticed. ‘What apparently made the difference today is the high state of tension over Syria and Russia’s unusual vigilance,’ he told Reuters. A Russian Defence Ministry spokesman quoted by the Interfax news agency said the launch was picked up by an early warning radar station at Armavir, near the Black Sea, which is designed to detect missiles from Europe and Iran.”