Israel's military has confirmed it was behind an airstrike that destroyed what it believed to be a nuclear reactor in Syria in 2007.

Newly-declassified material showed the decision was made the strike should not be linked to Israel due to the possibility of war. Instead, it was ordered to be kept secret until further notice. The airstrike saw eight F-15 fighters bomb the reactor in the Deir el-Zour region, about 300 miles northwest of Damascus on 6 September. It had been in development for years and was due to begin operations at the end of that year. In a statement, Israel described the strike as having "successfully removed an emerging existential threat to Israel and to the entire region - Syrian nuclear capabilities". RTS1OJAZ21 Mar. 2018Jerusalem, IsraelAn undated image from material released on March 21, 2018 by the Israeli military relates to an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor on Sept 6, 2007. IDF/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. IMAGES OF FACES HAVE BEEN OBSCURED AT SOURCE. Israel has said it was behind the bombing of a nuclear reactor in Syria. Syria had denied it was building a nuclear reactor but the UN nuclear watchdog said the site was "very likely" to be a nuclear reactor and the North Koreans could have been helping to build it. Also included in the material was footage of the strike, which caused "irreversible" damage, and pictures of secret army intelligence communiques regarding the target. Israel's role had been widely suspected but it was not confirmed until now. One reason could be the upcoming memoir of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who ordered the strike. Or it could also be a warning to Iran, Israel's bitter enemy which is increasingly active in Syria, where it is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. An undated image from material released by the Israeli military relates to an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor on Sept 6, 2007. It was decided to keep Israel's role in the strike secret - until now. Military chief Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot said in a statement: "The message from the 2007 attack on the reactor is that Israel will not tolerate construction that can pose an existential threat." According to Air force commander Major General Amikam Norkin, the strike has been vindicated by the conflict and chaos in Syria, as the reactor was in an area that was later under the control of Islamic State. "Imagine what situation we would be in today if there was a nuclear reactor in Syria," he said. More from World UK and US snub Russian briefing on Salisbury spy poisoning Texas serial bombing suspect dead after blowing himself up inside car - police Boko Haram militants free 91 schoolgirls kidnapped from Nigeria school Pope Francis to make first papal visit to Ireland in almost 40 years LIVE: Submarine builder Peter Madsen tells court Kim Wall's death was 'horrible' Russian diplomats kicked out over spy poisoning leave the UK "In historic hindsight, I think Israel's decision to destroy the reactor is one of the most important decisions taken here in the last 70 years." Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: "The motivation of our enemies has grown in recent years, but so too the might of the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces)." Next>>>