Russia had detected the launch of two ballistic ‘objects’ toward the sea, Russian media reported earlier; U.S. Navy earlier denied having any involvement in the launch.

By Gili Cohen, Reuters, Jack Khoury  |Sep 3, 2013

A missile test launch in February. Photo by Courtesy of Israel’s Defense Ministry.

Israel and the U.S. carried out a missile test in the Mediterranean sea on Tuesday, Israel’s Defense Ministry said in a statement, amid rising tensions in the region over the crisis in Syria.

The confirmation came after morning reports indicated that Russia had detected two ballistic “objects” launched toward the eastern Mediterranean from the central part of the same and a U.S. denial that its navy had been involved.

The Arrow III missile defense system was tested with a “sparrow” missile, which simulates a ballistic missile, and is launched from a plane, during the exercise.

The exercise was carried out from an Israel Air Force base in central Israel, the Defense Ministry said in the statement.