Israel’s military intelligence has said that “Iran may use Iraq as a launching pad to target Israel, which would call for a response from Tel Aviv”.

“Israeli airstrikes against Iranian forces in Syria may prompt Iranians to build military and missile facilities,” it said in its annual assessment, adding: “This situation will require Israel to intensify its intelligence efforts in Iraq, with the possibility of taking operational steps there if Iranian proliferation becomes a military threat”.

Israel’s Makan website published a summary of a report, which said that Iran was withdrawing its forces in Syria from areas near the occupied Golan Heights, which lies between Syria and Israel.

READ: Netanyahu tweets intent to start war with Iran, then deletes it

According to the assessment, Iran may take “provocative steps” in the nuclear field in an attempt to force the international community to lift economic sanctions imposed on it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and army commanders have recently confirmed that many Iranian military targets were bombed in Syria, pledging to continue airstrikes against Iranian-backed forces in the country.