Syria is producing more long-range missiles and is equipping its armed forces with as much anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry as it can get its hands on, warned the head of Israeli Defense Ministry's political-military bureau on Saturday.

Speaking to Israel Radio, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad stressed that he does not believe Syria will initiative a conventional full-scale war with Israel in the near future, but noted that the leadership in Damascus does appear to have become “enamored with the violent option.”

Gilad said that Syria and Iran are working together to strengthen and support Lebanon's Hizballah and the more violent Palestinian terror groups, apparently hoping that Israel will respond by striking Syria and setting off a war that its northern neighbor has been feverishly preparing for.

Earlier this month, reports indicated that Syria had managed to procure Russia's top fighter-interceptor, the Mig-31, providing it with vastly increased air defenses.