Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and members of a minority sect in Syria have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence.

Syria's Islamist rulers on Friday denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a "dangerous escalation", as Israel reportedly launched its heaviest barrage this year on the country.Israel said the Damascus strike was a "clear message" to the government not to harm the Druze minority,

It was the second time in days that Israel intervened militarily in Syria amid a wave of sectarian violence there.