Syrian rebels abduct 21 UN peacekeepers

DAMASCUS Syrian rebels have abducted 21 UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights near the border with Israel, the UN has released. The armed rebels kidnapped 21 Filipinos who were on their regular mission, a UN spokesman said in New York. Syrian rebels abduct 21 UN peacekeepers The Philippines strongly condemned the abduction of the peacekeepers on Thursday and requested that they be released immediately, AFP has reported. Negotiations about the release of the UN peacekeepers are underway, the Philippine government has stated. Philippine Foreign Ministry Spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters that a regional UN commander was negotiating with the rebels. The Syrian rebels have released videos of the attack on the UN convoy. They said in one of the videos that they would not release the hostages until Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces withdrew from the village of Jamlah in the Golan. This is the first time since the conflict in Syria started in 2011 that rebels have taken UN peacekeepers hostage. The UN troops have been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said earlier that he had been told that the peacekeepers could be released within 24 hours. Israel on Thursday expressed concern that the UN peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights could pull out altogether after the Syrian rebels snatched 21 of their troops in the ceasefire zone. “This kidnapping is likely to convince countries who participate in this force to bring their troops home, which would undoubtedly create a dangerous vacuum in no man's land on the Golan," an Israeli official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. A Free Syrian Army member is seen next to UN Disengagement Observer vehicle near Golan Heights (Beta/AP/Ugarit News/AP Video) Beta

Syrian rebels abduct 21 UN peacekeepers

The Philippines strongly condemned the abduction of the peacekeepers on Thursday and requested that they be released immediately, AFP has reported.

Negotiations about the release of the UN peacekeepers are underway, the Philippine government has stated.

Philippine Foreign Ministry Spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters that a regional UN commander was negotiating with the rebels.

The Syrian rebels have released videos of the attack on the UN convoy. They said in one of the videos that they would not release the hostages until Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces withdrew from the village of Jamlah in the Golan.

This is the first time since the conflict in Syria started in 2011 that rebels have taken UN peacekeepers hostage. The UN troops have been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said earlier that he had been told that the peacekeepers could be released within 24 hours.

Israel on Thursday expressed concern that the UN peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights could pull out altogether after the Syrian rebels snatched 21 of their troops in the ceasefire zone.

“This kidnapping is likely to convince countries who participate in this force to bring their troops home, which would undoubtedly create a dangerous vacuum in no man's land on the Golan," an Israeli official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.