Israeli warplanes fly over Assad home

Israeli warplanes flew over a home of Syrian President Bashar Assad early today, military officials said, in a message aimed at pressuring the Syrian leader to win the release of a captured Israeli soldier.

The officials said the warplanes flew over a residence belonging to Assad in an overnight raid near the Mediterranean port city of Latakia in northwestern Syria.

Israeli television reports said four planes were involved in the low-altitude flight, and Assad was home at the time.

The flight caused “noise” on the ground, the military officials said, declining to give further details.

The officials said Assad was targeted because of the “direct link” between Syria and Hamas, the militant group holding the soldier in the Gaza Strip.

Syria hosts Khaled Meshaal, the exiled supreme leader of Hamas.

There was no immediate reaction from Syria.