The shadow war between Israel and Iran in Syria escalated sharply on Monday after suspected Israeli strikes killed 26 Iranian and Assad regime fighters, according to monitors.

One strike tore through a military base dug into a mountain near the central city of Hama on Sunday night, causing an explosion so large it registered as a 2.6 magnitude earthquake. A second strike targeted an airbase near the northern city of Aleppo.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack but suspicion immediately fell on Israel, which has carried out a number of strikes as it tries to prevent Iran from building up a military presence in Syria and transferring weapons to Hizbollah, the Lebanese military group.

Israel’s military declined to comment, as it usually does on operations in Syria. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, convened an emergency meeting of his security cabinet on Monday.

Ministers discussed are believed to have discussed the strikes and Mr Netanyahu's plans to make a speech on "significant development" related to the Iran nuclear deal.