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.

Israel on Sunday said it will not tolerate presence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in southern Syria, nor any other forces affiliated with the country's new rulers, and demanded the territory be demilitarized.

Israel won’t allow forces of the new Syrian administration to enter territory south of Damascus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, lifting the veil on Israel’s long-term plans for its northern neighbor after the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime.

Israel announced its zero-tolerance policy towards Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's presence in southern Syria, demanding that the area be demilitarized. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that HTS and other forces affiliated with Syria's new rulers will not be allowed near Damascus.

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.

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

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,