Israel's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday that Syria's war of words with the Jewish state was meant to help Tehran divert attention from its nuclear drive.

"I hope that Syria will not let itself get carried away by the bellicose statements of Iran" against Israel, Danny Ayalon told a public meeting near Tel Aviv.

Ayalon said "the vehemence of the Syrians in recent times is the result of incitement from Iran, which seeks bellicose statements to divert world attention from its nuclear programme."

Syria and Israel have been locked in a verbal slanging match over the past month, with both sides threatening each other with military reprisals.

Iran, which is under intense international pressure over its nuclear programme, has repeatedly called for its arch-foe Israel to be "wiped off the map."