Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Photo: wiki commons.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Monday that any further Israeli action on Syrian territory would necessitate a “declaration of war.”

The Kuwaiti newspaper Alrai reported that Assad sent a letter to Washington through Moscow to warn that any new Israeli military action would evoke an immediate response. It said Assad expected an answer from U.S. officials within 24 hours.

Sunday, Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV – considered close to the regime of President Assad -quoted a Syrian official as saying that the country had stationed missile batteries aimed at Israel in the aftermath of alleged Israeli air strikes on a  Damascus military facility.

Earlier in the day Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoabi said that alleged Israeli air strikes against three targets on the outskirts of Damascus “open the door to all possibilities.”

The minister’s comments came after an emergency cabinet meeting organized to respond to what a Western source said was a new strike on Iranian missiles bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that Israel  took steps to assuage President Assad on Monday following the air strikes around Damascus.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli officials informed Assad through diplomatic channels that it did not intend to meddle in Syria’s civil war.