Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

UN Negotiating for Release of Peacekeepers in Syria | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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File dated November 24, 2008 shows a UN soldier looking through binoculars from an observation point near in the demilitarized United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Zone in the Golan Heights. (AFP)


File dated November 24, 2008 shows a UN soldier looking through binoculars from an observation point near in the demilitarized United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Zone in the Golan Heights. (AFP)

File dated November 24, 2008 shows a UN soldier looking through binoculars from an observation point near in the demilitarized United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Zone in the Golan Heights. (AFP)

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Negotiations are continuing over the fate of 21 Filipino UN peacekeepers taken captive by Syrian rebels on Wednesday near the village of Jamlah in Daraa provice, close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The men were seized by rebels from a group calling itself the Martyrs of Yarmouk Brigades. They are reported to be unarmed members of UNDOF, the UN force that monitors the demilitarized zone in place between Syrian and Israeli forces on the Golan Heights.

The United Nations Security Council and the government of the Philippines have both demanded that they be released immediately.

A spokesman from the Philippines foreign ministry said the peacekeepers were unarmed, and were on a supply mission when they were detained. It also said that negotiations were taking place between the commander of the UN force and the rebels.

In the same video that announced the seizure of the peacekeepers, their captors demanded that the Syrian government cease military operations in the vicinity of Jamlah as a condition of their release. The video also stated that the Filipinos would be treated as prisoners if their demands were not met within 24 hours.

A spokeswoman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said that its high command was in contact with the rebel group holding the peacekeepers, and was negotiating for their release. The organization also attempted to distance itself from the hostage-taking, saying that it did not endorse the operation, which it said was carried out by an unaffiliated group.

According to press reports, the area around Jamlah is currently the scene of intense fighting between government forces and rebels, prompting the group holding the peacekeepers to warn that the Syrian military is responsible for any harm that befalls them.