Forces

Plaintiffs include the son of Fort Calata who, among a group of anti-apartheid activists who came to be known as the Cradock Four, was burnt and killed by security forces in 1985.

Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said he had instructed Israeli forces to prepare to strike Syrian government targets if such attacks on the religious minority continued.

Syrian forces later said they had completed an operation there to "restore security and stability" after attacks by "outlaw groups" killed 16 of their personnel.

Another three Druze were killed by security forces as they tried to drive from the southern province of Suweida to Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, it said.

And three injured Druze were evacuated by Israeli forces to a hospital in northern Israel on Wednesday evening, the Israeli military said.