Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the “complete demilitarisation of southern Syria” and said Israel would not allow the new government forces to deploy south of the capital, Damascus, AFP reports.

“We will not allow forces from the HTS organisation or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus,” Netanyahu said, referring to the rebels who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December.

“We demand the complete demilitarisation of southern Syria,” he added at a ceremony for combat officers in central Israel.