The bloody civil war undermining the dictatorship in Syria is both a grave danger and a rare opportunity for Israel, senior officials from the Jewish state and Washington say privately.

The unraveling of President Bashar Assad’s regime may remove a thorn from Israel’s side, and, more importantly, deprive Iran of an ally. But the imminent threat of Assad’s departure could make Tehran even more desperate to strike at Israel before the balance of power in the region shifts, officials said.