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| United Nations Peacekeepers Captured in Golan Heights | United Nations Peacekeepers Captured in Golan Heights |
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| BAGHDAD — Forty-three United Nations peacekeepers, all of them members of a Fijian contingent, were captured by “an armed group” on Thursday near the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the United Nations said on Thursday. | BAGHDAD — Forty-three United Nations peacekeepers, all of them members of a Fijian contingent, were captured by “an armed group” on Thursday near the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the United Nations said on Thursday. |
| Syrian rebels and government forces have been clashing fiercely in the area, especially around Quneitra, the only border crossing between Syria and the Israeli-held territory. On Wednesday, fighters from a number of Syrian rebels groups, including the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, wrested control of the crossing from Syrian government forces. | Syrian rebels and government forces have been clashing fiercely in the area, especially around Quneitra, the only border crossing between Syria and the Israeli-held territory. On Wednesday, fighters from a number of Syrian rebels groups, including the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, wrested control of the crossing from Syrian government forces. |
| The United Nations said in the statement that it was making every effort to secure the release of the captured peacekeepers. A number of peacekeepers from the same United Nations mission were held by rebels last year and later released unharmed. | |
| The United Nations Security Council issued a separate statement condemning the capture and demanding the immediate, unconditional release of the peacekeepers. It said they were abducted from the “area of separation” between Israeli and Syrian positions, where no other military forces should be present. It described the captors as members of "Security Council-designated terrorist groups” and “nonstate armed groups,” but did not name the groups. | |
| Anti-government activists in the area who work with the rebels were not immediately available for comment. | Anti-government activists in the area who work with the rebels were not immediately available for comment. |
| The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a brief statement saying the government "holds the terrorist groups and the sides backing them fully responsible for the safety of the kidnapped soldiers and demands their immediate release.” | |
| Fighting continued in the border region on Thursday. The Syrian government mounted airstrikes and killed at least three rebels, bringing the total opposition death toll in the battle to 16 since Wednesday. The government did not comment on the fighting near the border crossing or say whether any of its soldiers had been killed. | Fighting continued in the border region on Thursday. The Syrian government mounted airstrikes and killed at least three rebels, bringing the total opposition death toll in the battle to 16 since Wednesday. The government did not comment on the fighting near the border crossing or say whether any of its soldiers had been killed. |
| The United Nations said it was restricting another 81 of its peacekeepers in the area, all members of a contingent from the Philippines, to their bases because of the fighting. | The United Nations said it was restricting another 81 of its peacekeepers in the area, all members of a contingent from the Philippines, to their bases because of the fighting. |
| At the end of July, the peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights, known as the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, included personnel from Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, the Netherlands and the Philippines. The force has been monitoring a cease-fire and military disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria in the area since 1974. | At the end of July, the peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights, known as the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, included personnel from Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, the Netherlands and the Philippines. The force has been monitoring a cease-fire and military disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria in the area since 1974. |