“There is very little information available, but the most likely explanation would be that the US is test firing some of its ship defence systems.”
“Russia: Two ‘Missiles’ Fired In Mediterranean,” from Sky News, September 3:
A missile early warning system identifies two launches heading towards Syria – although no signs of explosions have been reported.
Russian radar has detected two ballistic “objects” fired towards the eastern Mediterranean from the central part of the sea, the country’s defence ministry has reportedly said.
Interfax news agency quoted a ministry spokesman as saying the launch was detected at 10.16 am Moscow time (7.16am UK time) by an early warning radar station at Armavir, near the Black Sea, which is designed to detect missiles from Europe and Iran.
The Russian Embassy in Syria said there were no signs of a missile attack or explosions in capital city Damascus[.]
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had informed President Vladimir Putin of the launch, according to Interfax.
“The trajectory of these objects goes from the central part of the Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast,” Interfax quoted the spokesman as saying.
A ministry official had earlier criticised the United States for deploying warships in the Mediterranean close to Syria.
An Israeli military spokesman said they were not aware of any missile launch in the eastern Mediterranean.
Sky News’ Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said: “There is very little information available, but the most likely explanation would be that the US is test firing some of its ship defence systems.”