French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday that France was "ready to punish" those behind last week’s alleged deadly chemical weapons attacks in Syria, stressing that the conflict threatened "world peace."

French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday that France was "ready to punish" those behind last week's alleged deadly chemical weapons attacks in Syria, stressing that the conflict threatened "world peace."

Tensions have ratcheted up dramatically in recent days as Western and Arab nations increasingly call for action in the wake of the suspected gas attacks on August 21 in the Damascus suburbs.

"France is ready to punish those who took the vile decision to gas innocent people," Hollande said in a televised speech.

"Our responsibility today is to look for the most appropriate response," Hollande said.

"The Syrian crisis today threatens world peace," he said, adding that it had affected neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Iraq, wracked by bloody violence and attacks, and an influx of refugees in Turkey and Jordan.

He referred to a 2005 United Nations resolution on the "responsibility to protect civilians" and said France would increase military support to the main Syrian opposition body.

"I have decided to increase our military support to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC)," Hollande said without elaborating.

The French leader also said a decision about military intervention in Syria would be taken "in the coming days."

"There are times when this responsibility is heavy: whether to involve France or not, react or not... intervene or stand back, once more this question returns or will return in the coming days," he said.

A potential coalition of countries that would launch strikes on Syria is likely to include the United States, France, Britain and other countries such as Turkey.