An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the New York Times newspaper on Thursday that the regime is determined to use force against Syria “to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah.”

Tensions have been high in the region after Israel’s recent aggressive attacks on Syrian soil which drew international condemnation.

The new Israeli warning to Syria via the Times came two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned against any moves that would further destabilize the situation in Syria. He spoke after talks in Moscow with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Putin said that “Russia would not tolerate further Israeli attacks on Damascus and would respond.”

Last week, Hezbollah Leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said, "If the aim of your (Israel's) attack was to prevent the strengthening of the resistance's capabilities, then Syria will give the resistance sophisticated weapons the like of which it hasn't seen before," he said.

"The resistance is prepared to accept any sophisticated weaponry even if it was to break the balance (of force)," Hezbollah leader said.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Muqdad also has said that his country would "respond immediately" to any new Israeli aggression against Syrian territory.

"The instruction has been made to respond immediately to any new Israeli attack without (additional) instruction from any higher leadership, and our retaliation will be strong and will be painful," Faisal Muqdad said.

Syria has been struggling with a western-backed bloody insurgency since March 2011 which has left many people dead. Syrian unrest began as a democratic protest which soon turned to be a cover for several terrorist groups including al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front to fight in Syria.