Why UN peacekeepers are back patrolling the Golan Heights
UN peacekeepers have conducted their first patrol since 2014 at the crossing point between Israel and Syria, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.
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| United Nations peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights. (Source: Flash 90) |
The operation comes after talks with Russia, Israel and Syria.
In 2014, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Mission (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights was forced to withdraw after rebel fighters linked to the international terrorist network Al-Qaeda took over the area.
In recent weeks, Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, have liberated areas near the plateau, pushing rebel groups out of a "de-escalation zone" agreed by Russia, the United States and Jordan.
Mr. Haq said the patrol in Quneitra was part of UNDOF's ongoing efforts to return to monitoring the divided region.
According to the official, the mission contacted the Syrian Arab Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) before carrying out the patrol.
After the Russian military announced on August 2 plans to deploy eight military observation posts in the Golan, a UN spokesman said the presence of Russian troops would be "completely separate and distinct from the presence of UNDOF."
The UN wants to return UNDOF to full operations in the Syrian-controlled portion of the Golan Heights, known as Bravo. More than half of the 978 UNDOF troops are currently deployed there.
Israel captured most of Syria's Golan Heights in the 1976 Six-Day War and annexed it in a move not internationally recognized.
Established in 1974, UNDOF is tasked with monitoring the ceasefire line, dividing the plateau into two parts, controlled by Syria and Israel./.
