DAMASCUS, Sept 29: Syria accused Israel on Saturday of making excuses for war by spreading what it described as false reports that an Israeli air raid targeted a site linked to weapons of mass destruction.

Syrian Deputy President Farouq al-Shara said his country did not want war “in the distant or near future”.

“They (Israel) are making up things to justify an aggression in the future. They are playing on public opinion to mislead it,” he said, describing the reports as fabrications.

“Everything reported about this raid is wrong and is part of a psychological warfare that will not fool Syria,” Shara told reporters.

Damascus says Israel launched the air raid on Sept 6, bombing an empty area after air defence systems confronted the aircraft. Some US officials have linked the raid to apparent Israeli suspicions of secret nuclear cooperation between Damascus and North Korea.

Diplomats in Damascus say at least four Israeli warplanes crossed deep into Syria in this month’s operation.—Reuters