Israel evacuates injured Syrian Druze for treatment in Safed

Israel's military said three injured Syrian Druze were evacuated from Syria on Wednesday to receive medical treatment in Israel.

"A short while ago, three Syrian Druze citizens were evacuated from Syria to receive medical treatment in Israel," a military statement said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel carried out a strike on what it called an "extremist group" preparing to attack members of the Druze community near Damascus.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike on the town of Sahnaya sent a "stern message" to Syria's new Islamist-led government.

"Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community", he said.

Israel's armed forces chief later ordered the military to prepare to strike Syrian government targets if the Druze community faced more violence.

Two days of clashes between security forces and Druze fighters have killed at least 39 people around Damascus.

Israel's military did not specify how or where the evacuated Druze had been injured.

It said they were taken for treatment in the town of Safed in northern Israel "after sustaining injuries in Syrian territory".

It added that troops were "deployed and prepared for defence and developments in Syria".

The Druze, an esoteric offshoot of Islam, live mostly in Lebanon, Israel and Syria, including the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Israel, which sees the Islamist forces who toppled longtime Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December as jihadists, has previously threatened to attack should the Druze be harmed.

Syrian Druze leaders rejected the Israeli intervention and declared their loyalty to a united Syria.

Since the fall of Assad in December, Israel has occupied parts of southern Syria, citing alleged "security concerns" but drawing condemnation from Damascus and its allies.