This is a warning to Iran, Israeli intelligence minister says of Operation Orchard admission

He wrote: “When all accounts are settled, destroying the reactor will stand in Olmert's benefit.”

Mr Olmert stepped down from his leadership role as part of a corruption scandal for which he went on to serve jail time.

IN DEPTH: "They flew at low altitude to avoid detection"

According to Israel, the nuclear reactor was close to being completed, but Syria denied that the site was a nuclear reactor.

In a statement on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “The motivation of our enemies has grown in recent years, but so too the might of the IDF.

“Everyone in the Middle East would do well to internalize this equation,” he said.