The Israeli army's Green Pine radar system detected the test at the start of the week, according to security sources cited by the media.

The 11-metre (36-foot) missile, which has a range of 700km, was originally Russian built but improved with the aid of North Korean technology, the media said.

"Syria has successfully tested its Scud-D missile, which is capable of reaching any place in Israel, it was reported on Thursday," the English-language Jerusalem Post said.

"A previous test ended in failure when the missile fell apart over Turkish airspace."

There was no comment immediately available from Damascus.

Peace talks between Israel and Syria collapsed in 2000, in part because of disputes over the return of the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau seized from Syria in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

The Haaretz newspaper reported earlier this week that the two countries had reached understandings for a peace treaty in secret unofficial talks over the past two years, but this was denied by both sides.