Tel Aviv, July 15 -- Israel bombed Syrian government forces moving into the Druze-majority city of Sweida in southern Syria following days of deadly ethnic clashes, in a rare direct attack on forces loyal to Damascus' new leadership, according to Israeli officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that they had instructed the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to strike Syrian forces and weapons approaching Sweida "following the attack on the Druze," a day after Israel hit several Syrian tanks as a warning.

The attacks occurred as Syrian forces entered Sweida to quell intercommunal violence between the local Druze population and Bedouin clans, reportedly leaving nearly 100 dea...