Russia dismissed Friday Israeli accusations that Moscow had stoked this summer's military tensions between Israel and Syria, adding that Moscow's only goal was "to reduce tensions" in the region.

"We have an obvious and typical case of deliberate imaginings. Apparently, someone within or without Israel does not like the good dynamics in the development of Russo-Israeli ties," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement published Friday.

"The Israeli government knows very well that in our dealings with Syria and Israel we invariably follow the line of reducing tensions in the region, preventing a new conflict and re-launching the peace process," the ministry said.

On Thursday, Amos Gilad, head of Israel's defence ministry's political department, accused Russia of having supported military tensions between Israel and Syria.

Citing anonymous sources, the Maariv tabloid newspaper reported that Russian officials had told the Syrian leadership that Israel was preparing for a war.

(AFP)