Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus early on Friday, in its clearest warning yet to Syria's new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action in the name of the country's Druze minority.

Israel's PM says it will "not allow any threat" to the minority in Syria after sectarian clashes in which dozens were killed.

DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel’s air force struck near Syria’s presidential palace early Friday, hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in the southern part of the nation.