Israeli strikes hit an area near the Syrian presidential palace over Damascus's move to ramp up military action in the name of the country's Druze minority. The Syrian government termed Israel's bombing a "dangerous escalation".

Syria's Islamist rulers on Friday denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a "dangerous escalation", as Israel called it a "clear message" not to harm the Druze minority.The dawn strike came hours after senior Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus and rejected any call for secession.

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