ISRAEL is said to be considering further attacks in Syria and Lebanon following the air strikes on a weapons convoy this week, and on Friday claimed ''the entire axis of evil is coming apart''.

Officials said that the risks of military action to prevent Lebanese militia Hezbollah obtaining sophisticated weapons outweighed the threats of a response from either Syria or Iran.

Israel moved a third battery of its Iron Dome protective missile system up to the border with Lebanon to prepare for any retaliation from Hezbollah, following its reported attack on what it claimed were anti-aircraft missiles being supplied to the militant group by Syria.

Lebanese government security officials said Israeli jets resumed flights near the Syrian border on Friday while an Israeli analyst confirmed further cross-border strikes were likely.