Israel's air force attacked a site in Syria believed to be a nuclear-related facility containing material delivered by North Korea. |
Reports surfaced this week that Israel had launched an air attack against a site in Syria believed to be a nuclear-related facility containing material delivered by North Korea.
The Sept. 6 air strike generated surprisingly little outcry from the rest of the world, and not as much press as might be expected.
But it could have major implications: Some see the attack as a warning to Iran that Israel will not allow a nuclear-armed adversary in the region.
The strike was carried out several days after a ship with North Korean cargo docked in a Syrian port, according to current and former American and Israeli officials. The cargo was transferred to the site Israel later attacked, the officials told the New York Times.
North Korea has previously sold weapons and missile technology to Syria as well as Iran, but it has never been caught exporting nuclear-related material to either country.
Details about the raid remain elusive. But as the officials spoke anonymously, China abruptly canceled plans to host diplomatic discussions in Beijing on North Korea’s intentions to disband its nuclear facilities. China’s move was seen as an attempt to avoid a possible confrontation between the U.S. and North Korea over its alleged nuclear support for Syria.
The officials disclosed that the Israeli government notified Washington about the air attack before it was launched, but it is unclear whether the U.S. supported the strike or advised against it.
It is also unclear if the U.S. agrees with Israeli intelligence’s assessment that the targeted site was nuclear-related | 
