Chaos reported at Israel-Syria border amid Israeli attacks on Sweida

Chaotic scenes at the Israel-Syria border are being reported as people are attempting to cross the fence in both directions amid Israeli attacks on the Druze-majority city of Sweida in southern Syria.

The Syrian government deployed its forces in the area after several days of armed clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes.

Israel, which said it was acting to protect the Druze community in Syria, launched two waves of strikes on Sweida on Wednesday following the collapse of a ceasefire between Druze armed groups and government forces.

The army said it had struck Syrian military targets, including rocket launchers, weapons and pickup trucks, adding that "routes were struck in order to block access to the area".

But according to Syrian state media, Israeli drones targeting the area caused civilian casualties.

The Israeli military said dozens of people attempted to enter Israeli territory from Syria, while a number of Israeli citizens crossed the border into Syria through the Majdal Shams area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Haaretz is reporting that the Syrian village of Hader is sending vehicles to collect them.

The military said it was sending reinforcements to the border and that it was continuing "to monitor developments in readiness for defence and various scenarios".

Syria's presidency condemned the attacks as "criminal and illegal behaviour".

"We, in the Syrian government, strongly condemn these heinous acts and affirm our full commitment to investigating all related incidents and holding accountable all those proven to be involved," the presidency said in a statement on Telegram reported by state news agency Sana.

"Any party responsible for these acts, whether individuals or outlaw organisations, will be held accountable under strict legal measures, and we will not allow them to go unpunished."

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military will continue to strike Syrian government forces unless they withdraw from the Druze-majority city of Sweida.

"The Syrian regime must leave the Druze in Sweida alone and withdraw its forces. As we have made clear and warned, Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the demilitarisation policy we have decided on," Katz said in a statement.