JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel carried out a strike in Syria on Wednesday on an "extremist group" preparing to attack members of the Druze community in the Damascus region.
"The IDF (military) carried out a warning action and struck the organisation of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus region of Syria," said a statement from the Israeli leader's office.
"A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime, Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community," it added, referring to Syria's new Islamist government.
Sahnaya is around 15 kilometres (nine miles) southwest of the Syrian capital and is home to residents from Syria's Druze and Christian minorities.
The Israeli strike came as sectarian clashes between forces linked to Syria's new authorities and Druze fighters spread near Damascus, leaving 13 people dead, according to state media and a Syrian war monitor.
The Druze are mainly divided between Syria, Israel and Lebanon, comprising about three percent of Syria's population, with a heavy concentration in the south.
Israel seized much of the strategic Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed the area in 1981, a move largely unrecognised internationally.
Since Islamist-led forces ousted former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syria and sent troops into the Golan's demilitarised buffer zone.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly voiced support for Syria's Druze and mistrust of the country's new leaders.
Wednesday's strike in Syria came as Israel marked its annual Memorial Day to commemorate fallen soldiers.
"On this Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers of the IDF, when we honour the great contribution of the Druze community to Israel's security... we place great importance on fulfilling our commitment to the Druze community in Israel and to protecting their brothers in Syria," said the statement issued by Netanyahu's office.
"Israel will not allow harm to befall the Druze community in Syria out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who share family and historical ties with their Druze brethren in Syria."
"The IDF (military) carried out a warning action and struck the organisation of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus region of Syria," said a statement from the Israeli leader's office.
"A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime, Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community," it added, referring to Syria's new Islamist government.
Sahnaya is around 15 kilometres (nine miles) southwest of the Syrian capital and is home to residents from Syria's Druze and Christian minorities.
The Israeli strike came as sectarian clashes between forces linked to Syria's new authorities and Druze fighters spread near Damascus, leaving 13 people dead, according to state media and a Syrian war monitor.
The Druze are mainly divided between Syria, Israel and Lebanon, comprising about three percent of Syria's population, with a heavy concentration in the south.
Israel seized much of the strategic Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed the area in 1981, a move largely unrecognised internationally.
Since Islamist-led forces ousted former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syria and sent troops into the Golan's demilitarised buffer zone.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly voiced support for Syria's Druze and mistrust of the country's new leaders.
Wednesday's strike in Syria came as Israel marked its annual Memorial Day to commemorate fallen soldiers.
"On this Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers of the IDF, when we honour the great contribution of the Druze community to Israel's security... we place great importance on fulfilling our commitment to the Druze community in Israel and to protecting their brothers in Syria," said the statement issued by Netanyahu's office.
"Israel will not allow harm to befall the Druze community in Syria out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who share family and historical ties with their Druze brethren in Syria."
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