Israel threatens to strike Iranian targets in Iraq

In comments aired by the Israel Television News Company, Lieberman signalled that his country will take any action needed to eliminate Iranian threats in Syria and beyond.

"We are certainly monitoring everything that is happening in Syria and, regarding Iranian threats, we are not limiting ourselves just to Syrian territory. This also needs to be clear," he said.

Asked whether that would include action in Iraq, Liberman said: "I am saying that we will contend with any Iranian threat, and it doesn't matter from where it comes ... Israel's freedom is total. We retain this freedom of action."

Israel has pledged to stop Iran, its main enemy, from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria, where Tehran is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime in his country's civil war.

A series of recent strikes in Syria that have killed Iranians has been attributed to Israel.

Israel also acknowledges carrying out dozens of strikes in Syria against what it says were advanced weapons deliveries to Hizballah, the Iranian-backed Shia group.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held talks with US special representative for Syria engagement James Jeffrey on the war-ravaged country and Iran.

Agencies contributed to this report.