The Golan Heights

Syrian govt and rebels vie for strategic Golan region as Austria withdraws peacekeepers

Austria has pulled out of its peacekeeping mission as both Syrian rebels and regime forces claim to have seized control of a UN-manned demilitarized crossing on the Golan Heights, a disputed region between Syria and Israel

RT,

6 June, 2013

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Austrian Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Bauer said that the rebel Free Syrian Army had taken the crossing near the Syrian city of Quneitra, which is operated by a 1,000-soldier United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

A mortar shell struck the UN base in Quneitra, injuring one peacekeeper, Israeli media reported. Austria’s 380 UNDOF peacekeepers had withdrawn to their bunkers, and suffered no casualties. An Austrian Defense Ministry crisis committee has met to discuss the incident, Col. Bauer told AP in Vienna.

However, it remains unclear who now controls the UNDOF post, with conflicting reports emerging from both sides. The rebels reportedly opened fire on the Syrian forces, who retaliated with fire from tanks and armored vehicles. There have also been reports that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was shelled by Syrian government forces.

“The heroes of the Liberation of Quneitra Front, in collaboration with the heroes of al-Mutasem bi-Allah brigade, have liberated the border crossing with Israel,” the rebels declared on Facebook.

But several hours after the checkpoint was reportedly seized, Israeli security sources said the Syrian army had recaptured the area. "The Syrian army has recovered control of the crossing, there are sounds of explosions from time to time but far less than in the morning," an Israeli source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Separate reports have emerged claiming the Syrian army deployed tanks to the border region as part of its fight against the rebels. Syrian state news agency SANA said that government forces “repelled terrorist groups” that “tried” to take over the Quneitra crossing. SANA also cited an unnamed official as saying that a large number of rebel fighters were killed or injured.

Israeli military spokesperson Peter Lerner said that mortar shells fell on the Israeli side of the border near the Quneitra passage, CNN reported. Lerner also said that Israeli authorities have instructed farmers in the Golan Heights not to approach the border fence, due to the ongoing fighting on the Syrian side. Israel has reportedly moved tanks to the Israeli-occupied side of the border.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a “campaign of simultaneous attacks” was underway against Syrian government checkpoints in Quneitra Province.

The battle for the Quneitra checkpoint comes just a day after Syrian troops, backed by Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, retook the key town of Qusayr after a weeks-long siege.

However, the siege combat was apparently in violation of a ceasefire agreement with Israel after the 1973 war. The region is located in a strategic area near main supply routes some 10 kilometers from the Lebanese border.

Russia ready to join UN peacekeeping mission on Israel-Syria border

Russia proposed to replace Austrian UN peacekeepers who withdrew from the Golan Heights on the Israel-Syria border. However, the mandate of the UN mission does not allow Russia to do so, the organization’s spokesman said.

RT,

7 June, 2013

The mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has been in the Golan under the 1974 Israeli-Syrian agreement, does not allow Russia to deploy its troops in the area, said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

“We are grateful to Russia for its willingness to send its troops to the Golan, but the disengagement agreement and the protocol between Syria and Israel do not allow the participation of the UN Security Council’s permanent member-states in the UNDOF,” he stated, as cited by RIA Novosti.

Moscow’s proposal was voiced earlier on Friday by President Vladimir Putin.

“In view of the complicated situation which is currently unfolding on the Golan Heights, we could replace the Austrian peacekeeping contingent, which is withdrawing from this region, on the disengagement line between the Israeli troops and the Syrian army,” Putin said on Friday.

“Naturally, that will happen only if the regional powers show interest in our proposal and if the U.N. secretary-general asks us to do that,” he added.

During his last visit to Russia, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked Moscow to “bolster its involvement in the UN peacekeeping operations,” the president said.

The UN would welcome Russia’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts in the region, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Hak told RIA Novosti.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which was deployed to the border region in 1974 to observe the Syrian-Israeli ceasefire, is “very important for maintaining the peace in the region,” Hak stressed.

Austria withdrew its 377 peacekeepers on Thursday after the rebel Free Syrian Army took a crossing post operated by the UNDOF contingent near the Syrian city of Quneitra.

A picture taken from the Israeli side of the Israel-Syria ceasefire line in the Golan Heights shows smoke billowing from a fire caused by clashes between Syrian rebels and forces loyal to the regime on June 7, 2013 near the Quneitra crossing. (AFP Photo / Ahmad Gharabli)

Syrian government forces reportedly retook the UNDOF post after a day of combat. The Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was reportedly shelled in the process.

One Filipino UNDOF peacekeeper was injured by a stray mortar shell during the fighting. The Philippines is now considering pulling out its 341 peacekeepers from the Golan Heights.

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about UN peacekeepers’ safety in the ongoing Syrian conflict.

On March 21, UNDOF peacekeepers from the Philippines were abducted by the Syrian rebel group ‘Martyrs of Yanouk,’ who demanded that Syrian government forces withdraw from the border. All were later released following negotiations.

In May, four more Filipino peacekeepers were captured by the group, with the rebels claiming they were protecting the soldiers from the Syrian army.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the detention of the peacekeepers, and called on all parties to respect the UNDOF’s freedom of movement and safety.