Israel stepped up airstrikes on Syria overnight, declaring the attacks a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus as it accused their ally Turkey on Thursday of trying to turn the country into a Turkish protectorate.

Israel has accused Turkey of trying to turn their common neighbour Syria into a protectorate. In parallel with that accusation, the Israelis late on April 2 stepped up airstrikes on Syria, telling Damascus that it should see the attacks as a warning.

Syria has strongly condemned a fresh wave of Israeli strikes on airbases and other military sites overnight as an "unjustified escalation".The foreign ministry said the attacks almost destroyed Hama airbase and injured dozens of people.