Israeli Defence Forces have reinforced troops on the Syrian border after Druze leaders declared a general strike and warned they would cross into Syria to help their community under attack in Suwayda province, where 248 people have been killed in recent clashes.

Druze community leaders in Israel announced an immediate general strike and "days of rage" over events in Syria, with community members "ascending en masse to the Golan Heights" to prepare for potential border crossings.

"A shocking and cruel massacre is taking place at this time in the Druze Mountain in southern Syria, where innocent civilians - women, children and elderly - are being murdered in cold blood," said Druze leader Muafaq Tarif in an official statement.

The statement criticised the Israeli military and government for not taking "any practical action to stop the killing" despite explicit commitments to protect the Druze community.

Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the "threshold of responses" would increase if Syrian regime forces do not withdraw from the area.

"A short while ago, the IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria", the IDF wrote. "The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios," it wrote on its social media channel. 

"The Syrian regime must leave the Druze in Suwayda alone and withdraw its forces backwards," Katz said. "Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the demilitarisation policy we decided upon."

The casualties in Suwayda include 71 people from the province, including four children and two women; 156 members of defence and security forces, including 18 Bedouins; and 21 additional civilians, including three women, who were executed by defence and interior ministry personnel.

Israeli forces have been reinforced with a Golani recruit company, three Border Police companies and military police to handle potential border demonstrations.

Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant said Israel has "a moral obligation and national interest to help protect the Druze in Syria" and called for immediate military action.

Tarif said the clashes were "not between Druze and Bedouins, but between Druze and ISIS, against those who attacked Israel on October 7 - the same people."