Intense Syrian army bombardment yesterday prevented a convoy of United Nations vehicles from reaching and retrieving 21 UN peacekeepers seized by rebels near the Golan Heights two days ago, a rebel spokesman said.
Abu Essam Taseel said the convoy had reached the village of Nafea, about a kilometre east of Jamla where the Filipino peacekeepers were held on Wednesday, but was unable to venture further because of the bombardment.
At the UN, peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said he hoped a brief ceasefire could be reached between the rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad to allow the UN men to be taken to safety.
“Our 21 peacekeepers are detained in the village of Jamla. Apparently they are safe, they have been spread into four locations within that village, in the basements of various houses,” Ladsous said after briefing the Security Council.
“That particular village (Jamla) is subject to intense shelling by the Syrian armed forces.”
“As of now there is perhaps a hope... there is the possibility that a ceasefire of a few hours can intervene, which would allow for our people to be released.”
Syria’s UN ambassador Bashar Jaafari told reporters that the army was targeting areas outside Jamla where he said the rebels were concentrated, not the village itself.
“We know for sure what we are doing and we know where the peacekeepers are,” he said.
“The Syrian government forces are doing exactly what they have to do in order to bring the peacekeepers safely back, guarantee the safety and security of the inhabitants of these villages (and) get these armed group terrorists out of the area.”
The peacekeepers are part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has been monitoring a ceasefire line between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights since 1974.
Their capture just 1.6 kilometres from Israeli-held lines is further evidence of how Syria’s conflict, nearing its second anniversary, could spill over into neighbouring countries.
The “Martyrs of Yarmouk” rebel brigade who took them on Wednesday have said they would only be released once Assad’s forces retreated from around Jamla and halted bombing there.
The peacekeepers said in several videos they were being treated well by civilians and rebels.