Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops deployed in Syria beyond a ceasefire line on Wednesday, an Israeli government spokesman told AFP.

Netanyahu was accompanied by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Defence Minister Israel Katz, the army's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the head of the Shin Bet security service David Zini, the spokesman said.

In a video released by his office, Netanyahu addressed troops deployed in Syria in a buffer zone intended to separate the two countries' forces, praising their presence as vital for Israel's security.

"We attach immense importance to our capability here – both defensive and offensive," Netanyahu said, adding:"This is a mission that can develop at any moment, but we are counting on you."

Since the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has kept troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights separating Israeli and Syrian forces.

Syria swiftly responded, denouncing the visit as a violation of its sovereignty.

Syria"condemns in the strongest terms the illegal visit... considering it a serious violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity", the foreign ministry said in a statement, calling it"a new attempt to impose a fait accompli that contradicts relevant Security Council resolutions".