Israel conducts unannounced missile test amid Syria tensions

A missile scare flared up in the Mediterranean on Tuesday after an unannounced joint missile test carried out by Israel and the United States initially raised concerns of a possible strike against Syria.

According to a Reuters report, the morning launch of two ballistic "objects" was detected by a Russian radar and was first reported by Moscow media.

The early warning radar station located near the Black Sea in Armavir detected that missiles had been launched towards the eastern Mediterranean, roughly in the direction of Syria.

"The trajectory of these objects goes from the central part of the Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast," Interfax news agency quoted the spokesman as saying, according to Reuters.

Both missiles, however, fell into the sea.

The news of the launch, which comes amid fears of a possible U.S. military strike against Syria, triggered alerts across the region until Israel's Defence Ministry explained the launch was part of a U.S.-backed test.