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Syria conflict: Israel evacuates White Helmets Syria conflict: Israel evacuates White Helmets
(about 1 hour later)
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.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, the UK and other European nations.
Some 422 volunteers and family members were taken to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight.Some 422 volunteers and family members were taken to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight.
The UK, one of the nations requesting Israel's help, hailed the operation and will assist with resettlement.
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.
Although they operate only in rebel-held areas, they say they are non-partisan. How did the operation come about?
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were acting on a request from the US, the UK and other European nations.
The White Helmets had become trapped in an area of south-western Syria near the border with the Golan Heights after an offensive by the Syrian military.
The offensive, begun in June, has seen a number of agreements that have led to the evacuation of rebel forces from the Deraa and Quneitra areas to regions further north.
The latest deal for Quneitra was reached on Thursday.
The White Helmets operate only in rebel-held areas, although they say they are non-partisan.
How was it carried out?
The evacuees were driven to the border with the Golan Heights and taken on from there by Israeli troops to Jordan.
The plan had been to evacuate 800 White Helmets and their families, but only 422 made it.
The BBC's Mark Lowen says the others had been hemmed in by an expansion of Islamic State fighters into pockets of south-west Syria and, as this was a one-off operation, fears remain for the fate of those left behind.
Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and his ally Russia, say the White Helmets support the rebels and also have links to jihadist groups.Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and his ally Russia, say the White Helmets support the rebels and also have links to jihadist groups.
Jordan said it had authorised the passage of 800 people, but it was later reported that several hundred were unable to make the journey. Those successfully evacuated included about 100 White Helmets, with the rest family members. Those successfully evacuated included about 100 White Helmets, with the rest family members.
The evacuated volunteers 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. What have Israel and Jordan said?
They were driven to the border with the Golan Heights and taken on from there by Israeli troops.
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".
Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades.Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades.
Despite the intervention, the IDF said that "Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict".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. 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".
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". What happens next?
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 volunteers and their families will be held in a "restricted area" of Jordan and assessed by the UN, pending resettlement.
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt hailed the operation in a tweet: Jordan 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'."
A later statement from Mr Hunt and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: "White Helmets have been the target of attacks and, due to their high profile, we judged that, in these particular circumstances, the volunteers required immediate protection." The UK confirmed it would help with the resettlement, providing protection to "as many of the volunteers and their families as possible".
The UK would provide such protection to "as many of the volunteers and their families as possible". A statement from Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: "White Helmets have been the target of attacks and, due to their high profile, we judged that, in these particular circumstances, the volunteers required immediate protection.
"We pay tribute to the brave and selfless work that White Helmet volunteers have done to save Syrians on all sides of the conflict," the statement read. "We pay tribute to the brave and selfless work that White Helmet volunteers have done to save Syrians on all sides of the conflict."
The White Helmet members and their families will be held in a "restricted area" of Jordan and assessed by the UN, pending resettlement.
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. Their official name is the Syrian Civil Defence and it began in early 2013 as an organisation of volunteers from all walks of life, including electricians and builders.
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. Its main task soon became to rescue civilians in war zones in the immediate aftermath of air strikes, and it says its volunteers have saved the lives of more than 100,000 people during the civil war.
The latest deal, agreed on Thursday, saw fighters and civilians evacuated from Quneitra province, which borders the Golan Heights. Numbering about 3,000 volunteers, they also carry out essential repair works. Some 200 members have been killed.
The White Helmets have gained worldwide praise, were nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize and were the subject of a Netflix documentary and BBC Panorama programme.
But Syria's government and its ally Russia have accused the group of links to jihadist groups.
President Assad said it used "humanitarian masks and umbrellas just to implement a certain agenda".
The group has been financed by public donations, as well as funding from foreign governments.