This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces shows what was believed to be a nuclear facility before the air strikes in al-Kubar near Deir ez-Zor, 450 km northeast of Damascus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had praised the country's security forces for destroying a Syrian nuclear facility in 2007, after the secret mission was declassified on March 21, 2018. (Xinhua)?

JERUSALEM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had praised the country's security forces for destroying a Syrian nuclear facility in 2007, after the secret mission was declassified on Wednesday.

Netanyahu released the remark after the Israeli censor lifted an 11-year gag order, confirming for the first time that Israel was behind the so-called "Outside the Box Operation."

"The government of Israel, Israel Defense Forces and the Mossad prevented Syria from developing a nuclear capability," Netanyahu said in the statement, adding "They deserve every appreciation for it."

The leader stopped short of threatening Syria's ally, Iran, with a similar attack but warned that Israel's policy "was and remains consistent, to prevent our enemies from acquiring nuclear weapons."

Israel fears that Iran, its arch-foe, will establish a permanent military presence in Syria.

According to documents released by the army, on Sept. 6, Israeli fighter jets carried air strikes on a partially-completed nuclear facility in al-Kubar near Deir ez-Zor, 450 km northeast of Damascus. The strikes "irreversibly" destroyed the reactor.

Several months after the strike, the United States announced that intelligence indicated the site was a nuclear reactor with a military purpose, although Syria denied it.