Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone Wednesday and discussed the volatile situation in Syria.
The United States and Russia have been at loggerheads over the recent chemical attack Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces launched on the rebel-held town of Douma on Saturday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of retaliatory military action, in form of a coalition with France and Britain, prompted a slew of Russian comments warning that U.S. strikes could trigger a direct military clash between them.
The Israeli defense establishment on Wednesday placed the northern sector on high alert over concerns that any clash between the two superpowers on Syrian soil would spill over into Israel, saying terrorist groups could try to explore the situation to attack the Jewish state.
Netanyahu and Putin's conversation also focused on the strike on the T4 air base near Homes Monday, which Syria, Russia and Iran have attributed to Israel.
Iran's Tasnim news agency released images from the bombarded air base on Wednesday, showing the extensive damage to the premises.
Israeli Defense analysts said the strike took a serious toll on Iran's efforts to establish itself militarily in Syria, dealing a major blow to Iran's drone deployment in the war-torn country.
Putin reportedly asked Netanyahu to "respect Syrian sovereignty" and "refrain from actions that might further undermine the situation in Syria or its security."
The Prime Minister's Office said Netanyahu stressed that Israel will not tolerate Iranian military presence in Syria.
U.S.: All options on the table in Syria
Tensions between Moscow and Washington were exacerbated Wednesday after Trump warned Russia of imminent military action in Syria over the Douma attack.
"Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'" Trump tweeted.
The White House pushed back against suggestions that Trump had broadcast his plans for military strikes via Twitter, saying he had not laid out a timetable for action, that all options were still on the table and he was assessing how to respond.
His comments raised the prospect of direct conflict over Syria for the first time between the two world powers backing opposing sides in the seven-year civil war, which has aggravated instability across the Middle East.
"You shouldn't be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!" Trump tweeted, referring to Moscow's alliance with Assad.
In response, Russia's Foreign Ministry said, "Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not towards the lawful government."
Taking a more cautious tone, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the United States was assessing intelligence about the suspected attack.
The U.S. military was ready to provide military options, if appropriate, he added.
In Moscow, the head of a Russian parliamentary defense committee, Vladimir Shamanov, said Russia was in direct contact with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff about the situation.
Also on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered British submarines to move within missile range of Syria in readiness for strikes against the Syrian military that could begin as early as Thursday night, the Daily Telegraph newspaper said.
May has not reached a final decision on whether Britain would join any strikes by the United States and France in response to the Douma attack, the newspaper said.
It quoted government sources as saying Britain was "doing everything necessary" to be able to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines against military targets in Syria.
Putin on Wednesday expressed hope that "common sense" will prevail in a world that is becoming "more chaotic."
"The state of world affairs invokes nothing but concerns, the situation in the world is becoming more chaotic. Nevertheless, we still hope that common sense will eventually prevail and international relations will enter a constructive course, the entire world system will become more stable and predictable," he said.
Moscow will "continue to advocate strengthening global and regional security," and will fully adhere to its "international responsibilities and develop cooperation with our partners on a constructive and respectful basis.
"We will pursue a positive, future-oriented agenda for the world; and work to ensure stable development, prosperity and the flourishing of mankind," Putin said.
