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Syria conflict: Israel evacuates 'White Helmets' Syria conflict: Israel evacuates White Helmets
(35 minutes later)
Israel has evacuated members of a Syrian civil defence group - said by media to be the White Helmets - from a war zone in the south of the country. Israel says it has carried out an evacuation of members of Syria's White Helmets civil defence group from a war zone in south-western Syria.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had acted on a request from the US and European nations.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had acted on a request from the US and European nations.
Some 800 people were evacuated to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight, Israeli media say.Some 800 people were evacuated to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight, Israeli media say.
The White Helmets describe themselves as a volunteer workforce that acts to save people in Syria's war zones.The White Helmets describe themselves as a volunteer workforce that acts to save people in Syria's war zones.
They say they are non-partisan but supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and his ally Russia, allege links to jihadist groups. Although they operate only in rebel-held areas, they say they are non-partisan.
The White Helmets were nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and his ally Russia, say the White Helmets support the rebels and also have links to jihadist groups.
The evacuated White Helmets had been working in an area controlled by the Syrian opposition in the south-west of the country and had been trapped by a government offensive.The evacuated White Helmets had been working in an area controlled by the Syrian opposition in the south-west of the country and had been trapped by a government offensive.
The IDF said they had "completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families", saying there was an "immediate threat to their lives".The IDF said they had "completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families", saying there was an "immediate threat to their lives".
They said the civilians were transferred "through Israel" and "subsequently to a neighbouring country".They said the civilians were transferred "through Israel" and "subsequently to a neighbouring country".
The IDF did not mention the White Helmets by name, nor the country receiving the civilians. Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades.
But Jordan's government confirmed it had "authorised the United Nations to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in Western countries". Despite the intervention, the IDF said that "Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict".
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon later confirmed the evacuees were White Helmet members and their families, though neither he nor the IDF named the country receiving the civilians.
However, Jordan's government confirmed it had "authorised the United Nations to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in Western countries".
It said that "Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to 'a risk to their lives'".It said that "Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to 'a risk to their lives'".
The White Helmet members and their families will be held in a "restricted area" of Jordan.The White Helmet members and their families will be held in a "restricted area" of Jordan.
Despite the intervention, the IDF said that "Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict".
Who are the White Helmets?Who are the White Helmets?
The Syrian government began a major offensive in June to retake rebel-held areas in the Deraa and Quneitra areas.The Syrian government began a major offensive in June to retake rebel-held areas in the Deraa and Quneitra areas.
Under a number of agreements, rebel forces have been transferred to rebel-held areas in the north of the country, with the Syrian military then moving in to take control.Under a number of agreements, rebel forces have been transferred to rebel-held areas in the north of the country, with the Syrian military then moving in to take control.
The latest deal, agreed on Thursday, saw fighters and civilians evacuated from Quneitra province, which borders the Golan Heights.The latest deal, agreed on Thursday, saw fighters and civilians evacuated from Quneitra province, which borders the Golan Heights.