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| Austria to withdraw Golan Heights peacekeepers over Syrian fighting | Austria to withdraw Golan Heights peacekeepers over Syrian fighting |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Austria has announced it will withdraw its peacekeepers from the UN monitoring force on the Golan Heights after Syrian government forces and rebels battled to control a strategic crossing into the Israeli-occupied territory. | Austria has announced it will withdraw its peacekeepers from the UN monitoring force on the Golan Heights after Syrian government forces and rebels battled to control a strategic crossing into the Israeli-occupied territory. |
| Austrians account for about 380 of the 1,000-strong UN force monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel, and their departure will deal a serious blow to the mission. | Austrians account for about 380 of the 1,000-strong UN force monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel, and their departure will deal a serious blow to the mission. |
| "Freedom of movement in the area de facto no longer exists. The uncontrolled and immediate danger to Austrian soldiers has risen to an unacceptable level," the Austrian chancellor, Werner Faymann, and his deputy, Michael Spindelegger, said in a joint statement. | "Freedom of movement in the area de facto no longer exists. The uncontrolled and immediate danger to Austrian soldiers has risen to an unacceptable level," the Austrian chancellor, Werner Faymann, and his deputy, Michael Spindelegger, said in a joint statement. |
| The announcement came hours after Syrian rebels seized the Syrian-controlled section of the Quneitra crossing early on Thursday. | The announcement came hours after Syrian rebels seized the Syrian-controlled section of the Quneitra crossing early on Thursday. |
| The Israeli border area was declared a closed military zone and a large section of Road 98, a highway running along the armistice line, was shut. Farmers were evacuated from their orchards and the residents of nearby villages ordered to remain inside their homes. | The Israeli border area was declared a closed military zone and a large section of Road 98, a highway running along the armistice line, was shut. Farmers were evacuated from their orchards and the residents of nearby villages ordered to remain inside their homes. |
| A Filipino peacekeeper was also wounded during the fighting, a Philippine military spokesman said. | A Filipino peacekeeper was also wounded during the fighting, a Philippine military spokesman said. |
| The soldier suffered a leg injury from an artillery or mortar shell that landed at Camp Ziouni, a logistics base for the UN Disengagement Observer Force, said Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala. | The soldier suffered a leg injury from an artillery or mortar shell that landed at Camp Ziouni, a logistics base for the UN Disengagement Observer Force, said Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala. |
| "This morning's developments show that a further delay [in pulling out soldiers] is no longer justifiable," the Austrian statement said. | "This morning's developments show that a further delay [in pulling out soldiers] is no longer justifiable," the Austrian statement said. |
| As the only passage between Syria and the Golan Heights, Quneitra crossing has significant symbolic importance to the Syrian regime. The town itself also marks a strategic gateway connecting Damascus to the Syrian south. | As the only passage between Syria and the Golan Heights, Quneitra crossing has significant symbolic importance to the Syrian regime. The town itself also marks a strategic gateway connecting Damascus to the Syrian south. |
| Regime forces were reported to have reclaimed the position within hours of the rebel victory, but fighting continued, resulting in three mortars landing in Israeli territory. Israeli officials described the development as "very worrying". | Regime forces were reported to have reclaimed the position within hours of the rebel victory, but fighting continued, resulting in three mortars landing in Israeli territory. Israeli officials described the development as "very worrying". |
| "There are three major issues of concern in Syria: strategic weapons, chemical weapons and the Golan Heights," one senior official explained. | "There are three major issues of concern in Syria: strategic weapons, chemical weapons and the Golan Heights," one senior official explained. |
| "The [Assad] regime has assured us [of] quiet on the Golan border for 40 years. Now it seems we have someone in control of that border who has their back to us now but may turn around and face us at any point." | "The [Assad] regime has assured us [of] quiet on the Golan border for 40 years. Now it seems we have someone in control of that border who has their back to us now but may turn around and face us at any point." |
| The affiliation of the rebel fighters could not be confirmed. While media reports claimed they were Free Syrian Army men, intelligence experts stressed that radical jihadist groups had established themselves in villages surrounding Quneitra in the northern Golan. Among them are the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, responsible for the recent kidnap of Filipino peacekeepers in the area. | The affiliation of the rebel fighters could not be confirmed. While media reports claimed they were Free Syrian Army men, intelligence experts stressed that radical jihadist groups had established themselves in villages surrounding Quneitra in the northern Golan. Among them are the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, responsible for the recent kidnap of Filipino peacekeepers in the area. |
| "Some of these fighters are from local villages but others are foreign jihadists, many of them Iraqis," said Daniel Nisman, a risk consultant who monitors the region for the Israeli firm Max Security Solutions. "We've seen a lot of YouTube videos from a group calling themselves the Quneitra Liberation Front waving the black flag of al-Qaida." | |
| This group announced its presence in the area with a car bombing campaign targeting Syrian intelligence units in the Golan, which it claimed killed up to 40 people. Further raising tension along Israel's northern border are reports that the Assad regime has allowed Iranian forces to establish a listening post and encouraged a growing Hezbollah presence in the northern Golan. | This group announced its presence in the area with a car bombing campaign targeting Syrian intelligence units in the Golan, which it claimed killed up to 40 people. Further raising tension along Israel's northern border are reports that the Assad regime has allowed Iranian forces to establish a listening post and encouraged a growing Hezbollah presence in the northern Golan. |
| "This is the most tense the situation has been since 1973. Even a very tiny provocation could result in regional deterioration," Nisman said. | |
| "If Israel does respond to any incursion on this border or targets any further arms shipments, Assad may have to make good on his promise to retaliate [to Israeli aggression]. The Golan would be a very convenient place for him to react." | "If Israel does respond to any incursion on this border or targets any further arms shipments, Assad may have to make good on his promise to retaliate [to Israeli aggression]. The Golan would be a very convenient place for him to react." |
| • This article was amended on 7 June 2013. The original referred to Daniel Nisman of Max Security Solutions as David Nisan. This has been corrected. | |
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