Manama: Israel is planning to attack alleged Hezbollah missile stores in Syria, a Kuwaiti daily has said.

"Israel has had for some time the intention to attack the strategic depots belonging to Hezbollah in Syria and which contain a high number of strategic long-range missiles," Al Rai newspaper reported on Saturday, quoting Western sources it did not name. The depots are located in remote areas in Syria, the paper said.

The daily said that Western military reports asserted that Israel has mobilised an armoured division to reinforce the strength of the division already stationed near the Golan Heights and Sheba'a Farms.

"The current military forces are enough to launch wars on the Syrian and Lebanese fronts if Israel goes ahead with such an adventure," the military experts were quoted as saying.

Recent intense Israeli unmanned aerial drone flights over the area signal Israel's intentions to carry out military operations in the area, according to the experts.

"The strike will not be confined to Hezbollah depots, but will extend to modern weapon factories belonging also to Hezbollah and which are located in Syria," the paper said.

Al Rai report said that the situation on the Syria-Israel border was tense amid speculations about Syria's immediate reaction.

"It could be a silent reaction like the one that followed the Israeli bombing of a site in Syria in 2007 or a surprise response with Syria viewing the attack as antagonistic action, which would result in a dangerous escalation."



According to the report, Syria's military is on high alert and is strengthening its anti- aircraft defences.

Hezbollah has also intensified its readiness for a possible Israeli military operation and regards any attack on its depots in Syria as a declaration of war, the paper said.