UN peacekeepers in Golan Heights under fire from Syrian rebels
euronews (in English)
2014-08-30
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UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights have been attacked by Syrian rebels.
On Thursday, the militants who are fighting the Syrian government crossed over into the UN buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights taking 44 Fijian peacekeepers hostage.
They then surrounded two other UN encampments manned by 75 Filipino troops demanding they hand over their weapons. The Filipino troops at one base managed to get out but those at the other base came under attack on Saturday morning.
The UN has not confirmed which Syrian rebels are involved. However on Wednesday rebels including the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front had seized control of the Al Qunaytirah border crossing from the Syrian government.
The UN has monitored the demilitarised buffer zone since 1974. Israel seized Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and both countries are still technically in a state of war.
On Thursday, the militants who are fighting the Syrian government crossed over into the UN buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights taking 44 Fijian peacekeepers hostage.
They then surrounded two other UN encampments manned by 75 Filipino troops demanding they hand over their weapons. The Filipino troops at one base managed to get out but those at the other base came under attack on Saturday morning.
The UN has not confirmed which Syrian rebels are involved. However on Wednesday rebels including the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front had seized control of the Al Qunaytirah border crossing from the Syrian government.
The UN has monitored the demilitarised buffer zone since 1974. Israel seized Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and both countries are still technically in a state of war.
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