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U.N. Peacekeepers Released by Captors in Syria Qaeda Group Has Released 45 Members of U.N. Force
(about 4 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Forty-five members of a United Nations peacekeeping force who had been held captive for two weeks by an affiliate of Al Qaeda in southern Syria were released on Thursday in good condition, the United Nations said. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Forty-five members of a United Nations peacekeeping force who had been held captive for two weeks by an affiliate of Al Qaeda in southern Syria were released on Thursday in good condition, the United Nations said.
The Qaeda affiliate, called the Nusra Front, said in a video posted online before the release that it had dropped its demands for a prisoner exchange and the delivery of humanitarian aid, and that it would instead release the soldiers without condition. The Qaeda affiliate, called the Nusra Front, posted video online before the release saying that it had dropped its demands for a prisoner exchange and the delivery of humanitarian aid, and that it would instead release the soldiers without condition.
The capture of the peacekeepers, all of whom are from the Pacific island nation of Fiji, highlights the dangers that the Syrian civil war poses for international organizations that continue to operate in the region. The capture of the peacekeepers, all of whom are from the Pacific island nation of Fiji, highlighted the dangers that the Syrian civil war poses for international organizations that continue to operate in the region.
The Fijians were serving in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, which has been monitoring the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974. Fighters from the Nusra Front captured them last month after a coalition of Syrian rebel forces seized a crossing point on the demarcation line, defeating Syrian government forces there. The Fijians were serving in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, which has been monitoring the demarcation line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974. Fighters from the Nusra Front captured them last month after a coalition of Syrian rebel forces seized a crossing point called Quneitra on the demarcation line, defeating Syrian government forces there.
Nusra fighters also surrounded two groups of Philippine peacekeepers in their bases nearby, and exchanged fire with one of them. Both groups later fled to an Israeli-controlled zone. Nusra Front fighters also surrounded two groups of Philippine peacekeepers in their bases nearby, and exchanged fire with one of them. Both groups later fled to an Israeli-controlled zone.
In a statement issued after the Fijians were captured, the Nusra Front said it was holding them in retaliation for what it called the failure of the United Nations to help Syrians during the civil war. In that statement, the group issued no demands for their release.In a statement issued after the Fijians were captured, the Nusra Front said it was holding them in retaliation for what it called the failure of the United Nations to help Syrians during the civil war. In that statement, the group issued no demands for their release.
However, in the video posted online on Thursday, a ranking Jordanian cleric from the militant group, Sami al-Oreidi, said the Nusra Front had originally wanted to trade the peacekeepers for prisoners being held by unnamed “tyrants,” and for guarantees that aid would be delivered to rebel-controlled areas that are besieged by government forces in Syria. However, in the video posted online on Thursday, a ranking Jordanian cleric from the militant group, Sami al-Oreidi, said the Nusra Front had originally wanted to trade the peacekeepers for prisoners being held by unnamed “tyrants,” and for guarantees that aid would be delivered to rebel-controlled areas that are besieged by Syrian government forces.
Mr. Oreidi, who is seen in the video wearing Afghan-style clothing and standing in a grove of trees with the Fijian soldiers sitting cross-legged behind him, said the group learned after it captured the Fijians that a Nusra Front doctor had promised safety to the peacekeepers. So the group sought the advice of a jihadist cleric in Jordan, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, who told the group to respect the doctor’s promise and free them, Mr. Oreidi said.Mr. Oreidi, who is seen in the video wearing Afghan-style clothing and standing in a grove of trees with the Fijian soldiers sitting cross-legged behind him, said the group learned after it captured the Fijians that a Nusra Front doctor had promised safety to the peacekeepers. So the group sought the advice of a jihadist cleric in Jordan, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, who told the group to respect the doctor’s promise and free them, Mr. Oreidi said.
One Fijian soldier in the video, who is not identified, said he and his colleagues had not been harmed and were well taken care of. It was unclear whether he was speaking under duress.One Fijian soldier in the video, who is not identified, said he and his colleagues had not been harmed and were well taken care of. It was unclear whether he was speaking under duress.
Mr. Oreidi disputed previous reports that the Nusra Front had demanded that Western governments stop classifying it as a terrorist organization. He said in the video that the group had asked for no such thing, and that “jihad, combat and terrorism are praised and loved by Allah.” Mr. Oreidi disputed previous reports that the Nusra Front had demanded that Western governments stop classifying it as a terrorist organization. He said in the video that the group had asked for no such thing, and that “jihad, combat and terrorism are praised and loved by God.”
Confusion had surrounded the captives’ situation in recent days. The government of Fiji announced on Wednesday that they would be released soon, only to quickly withdraw the announcement and say they were still being held.Confusion had surrounded the captives’ situation in recent days. The government of Fiji announced on Wednesday that they would be released soon, only to quickly withdraw the announcement and say they were still being held.
The United Nations said on Thursday that the Fijian peacekeepers had been returned to a United Nations base on the Syrian side of the demarcation line for medical assessments, and a spokesman for Israel’s military confirmed that the peacekeepers later crossed into an Israeli-controlled zone in the Golan Heights. The United Nations said on Thursday that the Fijian peacekeepers had been returned to a United Nations base on the Syrian side of the demarcation line for medical assessments, and a spokesman for Israel’s military confirmed that the United Nations peacekeepers later crossed into an Israeli-controlled zone in the Golan Heights.
A spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he appreciated the efforts of those who worked to secure the Fijians’ release and emphasized the impartiality of United Nations peacekeepers.A spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he appreciated the efforts of those who worked to secure the Fijians’ release and emphasized the impartiality of United Nations peacekeepers.
A Syrian activist posted a video online on Thursday that showed the freed Fijian soldiers getting out of a van and being greeted by other peacekeepers. A Syrian activist posted a video online on Thursday that shows the freed Fijian soldiers getting out of a van and being greeted by other peacekeepers.