Faye Higbee:
Reports coming out of Israel today say that militants have taken over the Golan border crossing at Quneitra, Syria, Israeli residents of the area are being evacuated, and 43 United Nations Peacekeepers are now in the custody of Syrian “rebels.”
“Everyone have to wake up…everyone have to fight the ISIS…” Syrian News reporter
Reuters wrote:
“Militants fighting the Syrian army have detained 43 U.N. peacekeepers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and trapped another 81 in the region, and the world body is working to secure their release, the United Nations said on Thursday.
The affected peacekeepers are from the Philippines and Fiji, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters…
U.N. officials say that the peacekeepers, whose job is to monitor the cessation of hostilities, carry small arms that are only to be used in extreme circumstances. In previous situations where UNDOF peacekeepers were held hostage, the troops did not use their weapons.”
“The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers, and to restore the full freedom of movement of the Force throughout its area of operation.” U.N. Statement
Previous detainment of UN peacekeepers resulted in their release without incident, but that will depend upon which faction captured them. And that is not entirely clear. The fighting has prompted Israel to begin evacuations along the border as well.
“In the Golan, fierce battles between pro-and anti-Syrian government forces close to the border with Israel on Wednesday prompted the army to evacuate residents and tourists from certain areas close to the northern and southern ends of the frontier, Israel’s Channel 2 reported.
Latest reports from Syria indicate that several hundred fighters of the al-Qaeda-linked al Nusra Front have managed to overtake the southern Quneitra Crossing from Syrian government forces. Israel Radio, however, quoted Syrian sources as saying that the victors were from the more secular Free Syrian Army.”
Who’s fighting who?
The issue in what the mainstream media calls the Syrian “civil war” is power and control. Militant groups want the power from Syria‘s dictator Assad, and that’s the bottom line. But they are also fighting each other- and Israel.
ISIS captured the Taqba Airbase a base in northeastern Syria on Sunday… ISIS, or the Islamic State. The Syrian city of Raqqa has been a stronghold of the Islamic State and under attack by Assad’s forces.
There are conflicting reports as to who has custody of the hostages: the Free Syrian Army or the al-Nusra Front.
I’ll bet the Israelis could get rid of ISIS in a hurry.
Isn’t it ironic how the whole world calls Israel names then, when the chips are down, relies on Israel.
That newly released hostage made a stop in Israel before returning to the states.
These U.N. peacekeepers are fleeing into Israel.
UN troops were abandoning their posts following attacks by militant rebels in the area.
But 44 U.N. peacekeepers (from Fiji) are missing, presumed captured or killed by ISIS.
These U.N. employees only have a handgun and a few rounds of ammo.
They are under orders not to even use that unless their lives are at stake.
So, this is a very one-sided fight.
They are badly out-gunned.