Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned on Thursday that threats of Western military action in response to an alleged chemical attack would only lead to further chaos in the region.

"These voices, and any possible actions, will only contribute to further destabilisation in the region," Assad said.

His comments, made as he received Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were posted on the Syrian presidency's social media accounts.