Scores of desperate Syrian civilians have marched up to the border fence with Israel to plead for sanctuary from a Russian-backed Syrian army offensive sweeping through the country's south.

Key points: Some of the Syrian civilians approaching the border wave white fabric

Some of the Syrian civilians approaching the border wave white fabric Israeli soldier warns them to go back "for your own good"

Israeli soldier warns them to go back "for your own good" Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled their homes in the past month

The civilians said they took the unprecedented step of approaching Israel's Golan Heights border fence to seek refuge after seeing the bodies of at least 14 people, including women and children, who were killed in the bombing of the nearby village of Ain al-Tineh.

The crowd of people, which appeared to number more than 100, stopped about 200 metres from the border fence, where some waved white fabric at Israeli forces guarding the frontier.

They retreated after an Israeli soldier told them through a megaphone, "Go back before something bad happens."

"We don't want to hurt you. Go back for your own good," the soldier said.

The civilians are among hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have fled their homes in the past month in the biggest single displacement of people since the war began more than seven years ago.

Regime forces backed by Russian air strikes and Iranian militia have rapidly retaken rebel-held territory near Jordan and Israel, trapping escaping civilians close to the borders of both countries.

An Israeli soldier warns the approaching Syrian over a megaphone to go back. ( Reuters: Ronen Zvulun )

'We've been through hell'

Both Israel and Jordan have said they would not allow Syrians to cross into their territories.

As the incident unfolded at the border fence, civilians in the nearby Al Briqa refugee camp held a media conference over Skype, saying they were prepared to break through the fence if regime forces advanced towards them.

The sound of bombs could be heard nearby as a pregnant mother of four said she had fled with her children from the nearby town of Quneitra earlier this month.

"We've been through hell," she said.

"In the first week, we slept under trees.

"We're being targeted by air strikes. Just minutes ago, they brought the bodies of small children whose bodies were shattered.

"I fear that this will be the destiny of my children and me.

"All that we're asking for is stability and security. We are seeking a safe place to live.

"We are asking for Israel to provide us with security."

Both Jordan and Israel have closed their borders to the fleeing families. ( Reuters: Alaa Al-Faqir )

Israel, which seized the Golan in the 1967 Middle East War, has given humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in encampments close to a 1974 Israeli-Syrian disengagement line.

Many of the displaced are sheltering within the disengagement zone, which is monitored by a United Nations force.

Israel has threatened a harsh response to any attempt by Syrian forces to deploy in the zone, complicating the government offensive as it draws closer to the frontier.

Israel does not want its enemies Iran and Hezbollah, both allies of the Syrian regime, to move forces near its border.

Iran-backed Shiite forces including Hezbollah have been critical to the advances of the Syrian army.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking alongside US President Donald Trump on Monday, cited the need to restore the situation along the Golan borders to the state that prevailed before the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressing Mr Putin to rein in Iranian and Iran-backed forces in Syria.

With Reuters