Lavrov told US Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Sunday that Moscow was "deeply alarmed" by official US statements indicating a readiness to intervene in Syria.

"Sergei Lavrov drew attention to the extremely dangerous consequences of a possible new military intervention for the whole Middle East and North Africa region," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Lavrov’s warning comes after the US Defense Department said it is ready for military action if US President Barack Obama decides to do so.

Syrian government has been investigating reports of an alleged chemical attack in which the opposition claimed that around 1,300 people were killed and the army was responsible for it.

The Syrian government and army have strongly rejected the claims.

A team sent by the United Nations is set to investigate the latest claim of chemical weapons use outside Damascus.

Despite killing of at least 100,000 people in the massive foreign-backed insurgency in Syria, US had withheld a military intervention which they claim could be solution to the crisis, until a chemical attack was carried out, if any.

Pentagon has moved its naval forces closer to Syria and its chief Chuck Hagel has been affirming readiness to act on Obama’s command.

The war in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.

SHI/SHI