An Israeli military officer said Wednesday that the likelihood of a Syrian attack on the Jewish state is "low" in case its Western allies should strike the Arab country for chemical weapon use.

"An American action is imminent... Israel is preparing for a potential Syrian missile strike in the wake of a Western attack," Ha'aretz Daily quoted the Israeli Defense Forces officer as saying.

"We have a clear responsibility to prepare for any scenario in order to protect our citizens," the anonymous officer said, adding however, the likelihood of a Syrian strike on Israel is "low."

Earlier on Wednesday, a military source confirmed to Xinhua that anti-aircraft and anti-missile batteries had been deployed at several locations in northern and central Israel as a precautionary measure.

In addition, the Israeli Air Force would deploy two more Iron Dome batteries in northern Israel soon, the source said.

Meanwhile, the Home Front Command continues to distribute gas masks to Israelis through postal services, where citizens have been lining up to get the protection kits.

On Monday, a Home Front Command officer told Channel 2 that the country may not have enough gas masks for all of its eight-million population. Only about 60 percent of Israelis will have gas masks, the source said.?

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