Israel said it carried out a strike in Syria against extremists who attacked members of the Druze community, following through on a promise to protect the minority group as sectarian violence spread near Damascus on Wednesday.

The strikes were south of Damascus, where Syrian security forces say they are battling gunmen from the religious minority.

Israel launched airstrikes on Syria amid a wave of sectarian violence spreading around the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus, in areas dominated by the Druse minority.