The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on Wednesday announced that it will be withdrawing from an observation post in the Golan Heights, where the force is stationed. The announcement comes after the abduction Tuesday of four observers by Syrian rebels.
The fear yesterday was that the U.N. would react to the kidnapping by at least partially pulling back its observers.
Today, those fears were confirmed:
The United Nations on Wednesday pulled peacekeepers back from an observation post in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone where four Philippine troops were abducted by Syrian rebels, a spokesman said. The move came as countries which contribute troops to the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) expressed renewed concern about security in the zone between Israel and war-stricken Syria.
The kidnapping was the second time that rebels have seized UNDOF observers. Last time Croatia responded by removing its contingent of some 100 peacekeepers. Japan and Canada had similarly withdrawn their troops. Israel urged the remaining forces from Austria, India and the Philippines to maintain their contributions. Even after the most recent kidnapping, Austrian officials say they are committed to remaining in UNDOF – for now:
Austria’s Defense Minister Gerald Klug, who is on tour of the Middle East including visiting the country’s 377-strong Golan contingent, told the Kurier daily that the risks were “controllable”. “We have improved protection for the soldiers: better equipment for everyone and additional armored vehicles. The situation is tense. I will not sugarcoat it,” he was quoted as saying.
“An exit strategy is part of every military mission. We can respond at any time. At the moment I do not see a need for that,” he added. Austria will “do our share as long as it’s possible. But I’ll say clearly: not at any price. Our soldiers’ security has the highest priority,” the minister said.
UNDOF peacekeeping forces have been stationed in the demilitarized buffer zone between Israel and Syria since 1974. The steady erosion of the force, coupled with withdrawals by Syrian forces, has created a vacuum along the border. The vacuum, in turn, has been filled in by opposition groups, including by Al Qaeda-linked groups. Those groups have released videos showing them firing rounds into the air while in the clearly marked demilitarized zone. In the videos the rebels declare that they will eventually attack Israel.
[Photo: Prymonek / Wiki Commons]
