The UN has sent reinforcement troops to the Golan Heights buffer zone in Syria after it was seized by Israeli troops earlier this week, according to a report.

UN peacekeepers had “reinforced a couple of their positions” over the past 24 hours, a UN diplomat told Newsweek.

“UNDOF’s [United Nations Disengagement Observer Force] freedom of movement is severely constrained in the current context,” the UN official added. “It is imperative that the UN peacekeepers are allowed to carry out their mandated tasks without hindrance.”

After Syrian rebels overthrew the Assad regime on Sunday, Israel took control of the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone in a move the UN said violated its 1974 armistice with Syria.

The Israeli air force has since also launched hundreds of strikes on former Assad military sites in order to prevent them from falling into “hostile” hands.

Israeli officials confirmed on Tuesday that their troops had moved into positions beyond the buffer zone.