Pentagon Spokesman: Israeli Missile Test Help Was Long Planned

Sep 3, 2013 ASDNews Source : AFPS

Technical assistance and support from the Defense Department for an Israeli missile test over the Mediterranean Sea this morning was unrelated to U.S. consideration of military action in Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

“Early this morning, the United States Department of Defense provided technical assistance and support to the Israeli Missile Defense Organization flight test of a Sparrow target missile over the Mediterranean Sea,” Little said in a statement. “The test was long planned to help evaluate the Arrow Ballistic Missile Defense system's ability to detect, track, and communicate information about a simulated threat to Israel.”

The United States and Israel cooperate on a number of long-term ballistic missile defense development projects to address common challenges in the region, the press secretary said. “This test had nothing to do with United States consideration of military action to respond to Syria's chemical weapons attack,” he added.