Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Wednesday that Israel does not want to involve Syria or Iran in its current conflict with Lebanon.

Israeli soldiers stands on tanks during an Israeli army raid into the Gaza Strip July 19, 2006 in this handout released by the Israeli army spokesmen. [Reuters]

"We will leave Iran to the world community, and Syria as well," Peres told Army Radio. "It's very important to understand that we are not instilling world order."

Syria and Iran are prime sponsors of the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militia, the target of an Israeli military incursion in Lebanon that began July 12.

Brig. Gen. Alon Friedman, a senior commander on Israel's northern front, backed up Peres' comments when he told Army Radio that Israel's current policy is not to attack Syria so long as Damascus does not get directly involved in the fighting.

"Right now we don't have any intention, any thoughts of acting against Syria, unless Syria carries out some sort of act," Friedman said. "As long as Syria remains outside of these activities, we will keep the same policy that we have implemented until now."

Israel has pummeled Lebanon with airstrikes after Hezbollah attacked an Israeli military border patrol, killing eight soldiers and kidnapping two others. In the beginning of the fighting, Israeli warplanes buzzed the palace of Syrian President Bashar Assad in what analysts said was a warning to Damascus.