United States warned Israel of Syrian strikes in advance

Israeli public radio reported that Western allies had given Israel, which remains technically at war with neighbouring Syria, advance notice of the air strikes. "At that time we have to act and diplomacy must be put aside", he added.

It should be clear to Assad that his reckless efforts to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction, his disregard for worldwide law and his provision of a base for Iran and its proxies endanger Syria, said Netanyahu.

Johnson tweeted Saturday that he welcomed the news of the military strike against major chemical weapons facilities in Syria in concert with "our USA and French allies".

Aggression by the United States, the United Kingdom and France against Syria has been coupled with a "campaign of misdirection and lies" at the United Nations Security Council against Syria and Russia, President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday in comments carried by the official SANA news agency. Syrian government has strongly denied the allegations.

"If it is a multi-phased attack on Syria, we will see an Iranian response against Israel", said Dr. Dina Lisnyansky from the Political Studies Department at Bar Ilan University in Israel. Iran is the key backer alongside Russian Federation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, providing military advisors and "volunteer" ground forces.

"If the attacks continue and will be in a larger scale, chances for retaliation against Israel grow", Zehavi told Xinhua.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backs the joint airstrikes carried out against Syria in response to a suspected chemical attack.

Israel said on Friday that an Iranian drone shot down in February by its air force had been fitted with explosives intended.

However, the long-term effect of the global involvement in the Syrian war may not necessarily be negative for Israel.

Iran's involvement in Syria in support of Assad has alarmed Israel, which has said it will counter any threat.