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.

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.

Israel says it carried out an attack in Syria on a group targeting members of a minority sect as a new round of clashes left at least 11 people dead.