Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will not allow Syria’s new army or the insurgent group that led the ouster of former President Bashar Assad to “enter the area south of Damascus” as his government made clear Israeli forces would stay in parts of southern Syria for an indefinite period.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, described Syria’s new government as a "jihadist terrorist group from Idlib that took over Damascus by force," reinforcing Israel’s justification for maintaining a strong military posture in the region.

Israel carried out airstrikes late Tuesday on several locations in the Damascus countryside and Daraa province in southern Syria. Israeli warplanes targeted the Al-Kiswah area south of Damascus and Izraa in Daraa with at least four airstrikes, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

The Israeli military said it struck command centers and weapons storage facilities during the strikes. Before the airstrikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for southern Syria's demilitarization. He had voiced concerns over the presence of forces from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) or the new Syrian army south of Damascus.

Israel's PM said it would not allow the forces of HTS or the new Syrian army "enter the area south of Damascus".

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly called for the demilitarization of areas south of the Syrian capital Damascus. Netanyahu told graduating officer cadets he wanted the provinces of Kuneitra,

By bna Cairo bureau Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the disarmament of Daraa, Suwayda, and Quneitra in southern Syria, saying the new Syrian administration should not enter these provinces,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the complete demilitarisation of much of southern Syria. It is an announcement that could make conflict between Israel and the new leadership in Syria,