Since Sharaa and allied forces toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year, Israel has taken territory along the border and launched repeated attacks inside Syria, saying that it is acting both to protect the Druze minority and unilaterally enforce a de facto demilitarised zone south of Damascus.

Israel said its military struck several tanks in southern Syria, as clashes between Bedouin gunmen and Druze militias left dozens dead and injured.