This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-trade-fire-with-un-peacekeepers.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syrian Rebels Trade Fire With U.N. Peacekeepers | Syrian Rebels Trade Fire With U.N. Peacekeepers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| ISTANBUL — Two bases for United Nations peacekeepers came under fire in southern Syria on Saturday, the United Nations said. One base was evacuated, and soldiers on the second returned fire but were not able to leave the area. | ISTANBUL — Two bases for United Nations peacekeepers came under fire in southern Syria on Saturday, the United Nations said. One base was evacuated, and soldiers on the second returned fire but were not able to leave the area. |
| The clashes were a violent new turn in the confrontation between the United Nations force responsible for monitoring the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Islamist rebels who are fighting a civil war against the Syrian government. | The clashes were a violent new turn in the confrontation between the United Nations force responsible for monitoring the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Islamist rebels who are fighting a civil war against the Syrian government. |
| The rebels took over a crossing point on the demarcation line on Wednesday, and the next day they captured 44 peacekeepers from Fiji. | The rebels took over a crossing point on the demarcation line on Wednesday, and the next day they captured 44 peacekeepers from Fiji. |
| On Friday, a spokesman for the Philippines’ military said that 72 Philippine peacekeepers had been surrounded on two bases nearby and that the rebels were demanding that they surrender their weapons. | On Friday, a spokesman for the Philippines’ military said that 72 Philippine peacekeepers had been surrounded on two bases nearby and that the rebels were demanding that they surrender their weapons. |
| The United Nations said both of those bases were attacked early Saturday by “armed elements.” Reinforcements reached the first base, and all of the 32 Philippine soldiers there were able to escape to safety. | The United Nations said both of those bases were attacked early Saturday by “armed elements.” Reinforcements reached the first base, and all of the 32 Philippine soldiers there were able to escape to safety. |
| The second base took fire from mortars and machine guns, the United Nations said. The peacekeepers inside returned fire and kept the attackers from entering, but fighting kept the peacekeepers stuck in the area. | The second base took fire from mortars and machine guns, the United Nations said. The peacekeepers inside returned fire and kept the attackers from entering, but fighting kept the peacekeepers stuck in the area. |
| The United Nations also withdrew its personnel from an observation post because of the firing nearby. No personnel were hurt. | The United Nations also withdrew its personnel from an observation post because of the firing nearby. No personnel were hurt. |
| Lt. Libby Weiss, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military, said that the United Nations peacekeeping force had evacuated two of its outposts in Syria on Saturday and relocated the troops to a post on the Israeli side of the demarcation line. She provided no other information. | Lt. Libby Weiss, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military, said that the United Nations peacekeeping force had evacuated two of its outposts in Syria on Saturday and relocated the troops to a post on the Israeli side of the demarcation line. She provided no other information. |
| The United Nations did not say who had fired on its forces. | The United Nations did not say who had fired on its forces. |
| A number of rebel groups have participated in the battle against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria in the area. Though none have claimed responsibility for capturing the peacekeepers from Fiji, other rebels have blamed the Nusra Front, Syria’s Qaeda affiliate. | |
| The confrontations highlighted the new dangers that more than three years of civil war in Syria have posed for international organizations working there. | The confrontations highlighted the new dangers that more than three years of civil war in Syria have posed for international organizations working there. |
| United Nations peacekeepers have been monitoring the cease-fire between Israel and Syria since 1973, a job that for decades involved almost no violence. That has changed as the Syrian civil war, which has killed more than 190,000 people, has brought frequent fighting to the area. | United Nations peacekeepers have been monitoring the cease-fire between Israel and Syria since 1973, a job that for decades involved almost no violence. That has changed as the Syrian civil war, which has killed more than 190,000 people, has brought frequent fighting to the area. |
| Still, most of the mission’s observation posts along the frontier are functioning. Peacekeepers were captured by rebels earlier in the conflict but released unharmed. | Still, most of the mission’s observation posts along the frontier are functioning. Peacekeepers were captured by rebels earlier in the conflict but released unharmed. |
| It is unclear why the rebels seized the peacekeepers, although some have speculated that they are using them as human shields to deter Syrian government forces from attacking the area. | It is unclear why the rebels seized the peacekeepers, although some have speculated that they are using them as human shields to deter Syrian government forces from attacking the area. |