Israeli troops on Wednesday sought to control crowds and prevent Druze from crossing into Syrian territory, after deadly sectarian violence prompted Damascus to send government forces to Syria's south.

Israeli soldiers in the occupied Golan Heights fired teargas to keep order along the heavily fortified frontier as dozens of people tried to cross over, said an AFP reporter in Majdal Shams, a mainly Druze town in the Israeli-annexed area.

Large crowds of men, many of them in the traditional Druze attire of white caps and black tunics, gathered in front of the barbed wire, chanting and waving Druze flags, as Israeli soldiers looked on.

"We just want to help our people. We want to help the parents, we want to help our families," said Faiz Shakir, from the Golan Heights.

He said he was "very, very frustrated" after hearing of atrocities against the Druze in Syria.

"There's nothing we can do. Our families are there... my........

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