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.

In an address Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Syria’s new rulers should demilitarize the Quneitra, Daraa and Suwayda provinces.

Katz said Israeli forces will be deployed in southern Syria indefinitely in order to reinforce defensive and offensive capabilities against any threats to Israel. Israel sent troops into the 235 sq km buffer zone to prevent Syrian rebels from approaching the border when the Turkish-backed Islamist rebels toppled the government of [former] President Bashar al-Assad late last year.

At least two people were killed late Tuesday when Israeli airstrikes targeted a military position south of the Syrian capital Damascus, according to a

A series of powerful explosions has been heard in Damascus amid Israeli planes spotted in Syria''s south, the Al-Watan newspaper reported on Wednesday.