The United Nations said Wednesday that the number of people fleeing fighting in Syria could reach 1.1 million by June, as it warned of crisis "fatigue" among developed nations.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said the international community needed to support a $1 billion plan, pushed by his and other international groups, to address the needs of those displaced by the Syrian conflict.

At least 12 members of Syria's security forces were killed in two suicide car bombings targeting a military intelligence headquarters in the south-central city of Palmyra on Wednesday, a watchdog said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that more than 20 troops were also wounded, some in critical condition, after the simultaneous attacks against the intelligence branch and a nearby security building.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is expected to hold a mass on St. Maroun day in the northern city of Tripoli, media reports said on Wednesday.

Al-Rahi will head to Tripoli on Friday afternoon as the mass will be held at St. Maroun Church.

Israel has deployed a third Iron Dome missile defense battery to the north of the country a few days after carrying out an air strike inside neighboring Syria, Israeli media said on Tuesday.

"The deployment of several Iron Dome batteries in the north of the country comes as part of the setting up of the system," an army spokesman was quoted as saying.

The possible downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad could open new and dangerous fronts for Israel, even if it weakens Hizbullah, experts say.

While nobody can predict when or how Assad's regime could crumble, such a scenario "would dramatically affect Israel," a senior Israeli security official speaking on condition of anonymity told Agence France Presse.

The Syrian National Council, the main component of the opposition National Coalition, on Tuesday rejected the possibility of holding any talks with the regime as offered by the head of the umbrella group.

"The Syrian National Council has already told the people of the revolution of its commitment to its principles and objectives... the overthrow of the Syrian regime and all its parts, the rejection of any dialogue with it, and the protection of the revolution so that it does not become hostage to any international commitments," it said in a statement.

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Tuesday backed a call by the leader of Syria's main opposition group for talks with the Damascus regime aimed at ending nearly 23 months of bloodshed in the country.

Arabi also offered to play a role in any negotiations for a democratic transition in Syria, where tens of thousands of people have been killed in the fighting between rebels and President Bashar Assad's forces.

Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Tuesday that the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran was growing under the "terrifying dictatorship" ruling the Islamic republic.

"The Iranian danger has grown," Peres said at the opening of the newly-elected Israeli parliament. "It threatens our existence, the independence of the Arab states, the peace of the whole world."

A Tunisian Salafist leader wanted for deadly violence said the government is in thrall to Western powers, according to an interview banned by the authorities but posted Tuesday on the Internet.

Abu Iyadh, who heads the radical Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, also said however he was ready for dialogue with the country's ruling Islamist party Ennahda.

The U.N. food agency said Tuesday it will dramatically expand its aid operation in Syria to reach one million more people amid growing alarm over the humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

"In February, we hope to scale up our operations and reach 1.75 million, then two million in March, and 2.5 million vulnerable Syrians in April," said Elisabeth Byrs, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program.