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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: Israel evacuates White Helmets | Syria conflict: Israel evacuates White Helmets |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel says it has carried out an evacuation of members of Syria's White Helmets civil defence group from a war zone in south-western Syria. | Israel says it has carried out an evacuation of members of Syria's White Helmets civil defence group from a war zone in south-western Syria. |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had acted on a request from the US, the UK and other European nations. | |
| Some 422 volunteers and family members were taken to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight. | |
| The White Helmets describe themselves as a volunteer workforce that acts to save people in Syria's war zones. | The White Helmets describe themselves as a volunteer workforce that acts to save people in Syria's war zones. |
| Although they operate only in rebel-held areas, they say they are non-partisan. | Although they operate only in rebel-held areas, they say they are non-partisan. |
| Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and his ally Russia, say the White Helmets support the rebels and also have links to jihadist groups. | Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, and his ally Russia, say the White Helmets support the rebels and also have links to jihadist groups. |
| Jordan said it had authorised the passage of 800 people, but it was later reported that several hundred were unable to make the journey. | |
| The evacuated White Helmets had been working in an area controlled by the Syrian opposition in the south-west of the country and had been trapped by a government offensive. | The evacuated White Helmets had been working in an area controlled by the Syrian opposition in the south-west of the country and had been trapped by a government offensive. |
| They were driven to the border with the Golan Heights and taken on from there by Israeli troops. | |
| The IDF said they had "completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families", saying there was an "immediate threat to their lives". | The IDF said they had "completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families", saying there was an "immediate threat to their lives". |
| They said the civilians were transferred "through Israel" and "subsequently to a neighbouring country". | They said the civilians were transferred "through Israel" and "subsequently to a neighbouring country". |
| Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades. | Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades. |
| Despite the intervention, the IDF said that "Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict". | Despite the intervention, the IDF said that "Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict". |
| Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon later confirmed the evacuees were White Helmet members and their families, though neither he nor the IDF named the country receiving the civilians. | Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon later confirmed the evacuees were White Helmet members and their families, though neither he nor the IDF named the country receiving the civilians. |
| However, Jordan's government confirmed it had "authorised the United Nations to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in Western countries". | However, Jordan's government confirmed it had "authorised the United Nations to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in Western countries". |
| It said that "Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to 'a risk to their lives'". | It said that "Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to 'a risk to their lives'". |
| UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt hailed the operation in a tweet: | |
| A later statement from Mr Hunt and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: "White Helmets have been the target of attacks and, due to their high profile, we judged that, in these particular circumstances, the volunteers required immediate protection." | |
| The UK would provide such protection to "as many of the volunteers and their families as possible". | |
| "We pay tribute to the brave and selfless work that White Helmet volunteers have done to save Syrians on all sides of the conflict," the statement read. | |
| The White Helmet members and their families will be held in a "restricted area" of Jordan and assessed by the UN, pending resettlement. | |
| Who are the White Helmets? | Who are the White Helmets? |
| The Syrian government began a major offensive in June to retake rebel-held areas in the Deraa and Quneitra areas. | The Syrian government began a major offensive in June to retake rebel-held areas in the Deraa and Quneitra areas. |
| Under a number of agreements, rebel forces have been transferred to rebel-held areas in the north of the country, with the Syrian military then moving in to take control. | Under a number of agreements, rebel forces have been transferred to rebel-held areas in the north of the country, with the Syrian military then moving in to take control. |
| The latest deal, agreed on Thursday, saw fighters and civilians evacuated from Quneitra province, which borders the Golan Heights. | The latest deal, agreed on Thursday, saw fighters and civilians evacuated from Quneitra province, which borders the Golan Heights. |