Following last week's Hizbullah shelling in the North, the Israel Air Force dispatched fighter jets to Syria that buzzed the palace of Syrian President Bashir Assad in a warning to rein in Hizbullah, Channel 1 reported Friday night.

The warplanes reportedly swooped in low over Assad's summer palace in the port city of Latakia, where Assad was staying. Assad reportedly saw and heard the jets, the TV reported.

The aircraft later buzzed Beirut, but the message was apparently received and Hizbullah kept their anti-aircraft cannons in the North quiet.

The IDF Spokesman refused to confirm or deny the report. Military sources on Saturday, however, stressed that Israel did send the Syrian leader a "direct message" that it holds Assad's government responsible for silencing Hizbullah.

The incident took place last Sunday, after Hizbullah anti-aircraft shells hit the northern border town of Shlomi, killing 16-year-old Haviv Dadon. Air force jets retaliated by blowing up the Hizbullah battery.

The successful buzzing of Assad at his palace demonstrated the excellent real time intelligence of the security services.