United Nations peacekeeping forces and support staff have been relocated from the Syrian side of the Golan Heights to Israel.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement Sept. 15 said the situation of the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force has “deteriorated severely over the last several days.” The force was put into place in May 1974 on the border between Syria and Israel to maintain a cease-fire between the two countries.
The peacekeepers also reportedly evacuated their equipment to Israel from Camp Faouar, the force’s main headquarters, located in Syria, near the Quneitra crossing.
Syrian rebels have gained control of nearly the entire border between Israel and Syria, according to reports.
A group of 41 Fijian U.N. peacekeepers who surrendered to the al-Nusra Brigade, were released last week. — jta