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.

Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri has harshly criticized Syria's government for what he called an "unjustified genocidal attack" during deadly sectarian fighting in Druze-majority areas south of Damascus this week.

Israel struck Syria on Wednesday in what it called a "warning" against attacks on the Druze minority, in a military intervention that came as sectarian clashes spread near Damascus, killing 13 people.