Israel said it carried out a strike in Syria against "an extremist group" that attacked members of the Druze community, following through on a promise to defend the minority group as deadly sectarian violence spread near Damascus on Wednesday.

Syria strongly condemned foreign intervention following a rare Israeli strike near Damascus on Wednesday amid deadly sectarian violence.

For the second time in a matter of days, Israeli planes have struck Syria and the country's prime minister and defence minister said it was a warning to the Syrian regime following clashes in recent days with the minority Druze community south of the city.