Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel was prepared for "every possible scenario" in Syria after US President Obama delayed a possible missile strike on Syrian targets.
"Israel is calm and sure of itself, the citizens of Israel know that we are prepared for every possible scenario," he told ministers at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, in remarks broadcast on public radio, according to AFP.
Despite claims by the Obama administration that the US was "ready to go" on a limited strike on Syrian government targets, the President announced Saturday that he will wait for Congress to endorse an attack on Syria, effectively delaying any possibility of military action in Syria until September 9, when US lawmakers return from their summer break.
Netanyahu sought to calm domestic fears that a US-led attack on Syria over claims that President Bashar Assad used chemical agents against civilians could cause the Syrian regime or Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to retaliate against Israel.
"Our enemies have very good reasons not to try our strength, not to test our power," he said. "They know why," the Israeli premier said Sunday.
Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have both insisted that Israel is not involved in the bloody conflict in Syria but will respond with force if attacked.
According to UN estimates, over 100,000 people have died in Syria since the onset of the conflict in 2011.
