Israel’s air force has struck near Syria’s presidential palace hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria.

Syria's Islamist rulers denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a "dangerous escalation", as Israel reportedly launched its heaviest barrage this year on the country.

The Israeli air force launched a strike near Syria's presidential palace after warning the government against advancing towards villages inhabited by the Druze minority sect.