Leaders of the Alawite community in Syria have sent a letter to Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking the Jewish state to "save" this ethnic minority from persecution by the new Syrian authorities, Israeli I24 television reported on Monday.

"Following the fall of the [ousted President Bashar al-] Assad regime and the massacres against our people in Alawite areas [of Syria], we declare our demand for protection, assistance, and support from the Israeli government," the letter, obtained by I24, said, in particular.

The letter adds that Syrian Alawites reach out their hand to Israel and will be the most loyal and best friends of the Jewish state.

The letter from the Alawite community leaders in Syria contains as well several requests from Israel: to deploy its army, including the air force and navy, to protect civilians in the coastal regions of Syria, to raise the issue of the killing of Alawites at the international level, and to cover it in the press.