UN Condemns Seizure of Peacekeepers by Syrian Rebels in Golan Heights

Western-backed rebels shown dragging Syrian national. The rebels have attacked the airport near Aleppo, the commercial hub of the Middle Eastern state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

UN condemns seizure of peacekeepers by Syria militants in Golan Heights

Wed Mar 6, 2013 10:43PM GMT
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The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the seizure of the UN peacekeepers in the occupied Golan Heights by foreign-backed Syrian militants.

The 15-nation council condemned the Syrian militants in a statement issued on Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to the UN and Security Council President Vitaly Churkin told a press conference in New York.

“The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the detention of a group of more than 20 peacekeepers of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force [UNDOF] within the area of limitation east of the B-Line earlier today by armed elements of the Syrian opposition,” Churkin said.

“The members of the Security Council demanded the unconditional and immediate release of all the detained UN peacekeepers and called upon all parties to cooperate with UNDOF in good faith to enable it to operate freely and ensure full security of its personnel,” he added.

"My understanding is that they took over the trucks in which the UNDOF personnel was [sic] moving around," Churkin said.

According to Eduardo del Buey, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the peacekeepers were stopped and detained by approximately 30 armed militants.

“The UN observers were on a regular supply mission and were stopped near observation post 58… The mission is dispatching a team to assess the situation and attempt a resolution,” he said.

The Syria crisis began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed.

The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

In addition, several international human rights organizations have accused the foreign-sponsored militants of committing war crimes.