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 warplanes late Tuesday struck military sites in southern Syria, the Israel Defense Forces said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to demilitarize the border region.

The Israeli Army has carried out military strikes on southern Syria, days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called to demilitarise the area. Two people were killed after bombing on a military unit close to the capital city of Damascus.