Israel said it carried out a warning strike against an extremist group that was preparing to attack Druze in Syria, following through on its pledge to protect the minority group as violence spread in Druze areas near Damascus on Wednesday.

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.

Israel's army chief on Wednesday ordered the military to prepare to strike targets belonging to the Syrian government if the Druze community faced more violence, the military said. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir "instructed the Israeli military to prepare to strike targets belonging to the Syrian regime should violence against Druze communities continue,