Israeli jets have reportedly targeted a suspected chemical weapons factory in western Syria.

The Syrian National Army said four IAF warplanes hit a military site in Hama province, near Masyaf, in the early hours of Thursday morning, killing two soldiers and causing massive damage.

The strike will raise tensions, with Syria warning there will be "dangerous repercussions of this aggressive action to the security and stability of the region".

It is believed the site was linked to the sarin gas attack in April, which UN investigators said was the work of the Syrian government.

Image: The factory is said to have been behind a deadly chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria confirmed the chemical attacks in Khan Sheikhoun, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians and prompted a US missile attack, were perpetrated by Assad regime forces.


Syria's government has always denied using chemical weapons - despite a wealth of evidence to the contrary.

Israel refused to comment on the reports but has indicated in the past that it has taken military action against Hezbollah and other targets inside Syria - and will continue to do so.

Tensions on Israel's northern border with Syria and Lebanon have grown in recent months.

Image: Children in Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, where the chemical attack took place in April 2017

Israel is currently carrying out its largest military drill in 20 years in the north of the country.

Israel claims Iran's proxy, Hezbollah, is using the chaos of the Syrian war to dig in positions inside Syria and increase its arsenal of missiles.

Many analysts believe there is the distinct possibility of another violent confrontation between the Lebanese Shia militant group and Israel in the near future.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Iran was building facilities to produce missiles in Syrian territory.