Dec. 4, 2014 – UN troops monitoring the 1974 ceasefire between Israel and Syria have witnessed interactions between members of the Israeli Defence Forces and the Al Nusra Front who have taken over a large part of the Golan Heights.
The information is included in a report by Ban Ki-moon to the Security Council issued on Thursday on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer Force. The peacekeeping mission was forced to relocate its troops from the Golan because of a deteriorating security situation which included 45 Fijian troops kidnapped by the rebels in August.
In the report Ban writes, “Following the evacuation of UNDOF personnel from position 85 on 28 August, UNDOF sporadically observed armed members of the opposition interacting with IDF across the ceasefire line in the vicinity of United Nations position 85.” [see map]
[...] On 23 September, in the morning, IDF informed UNDOF that it had shot down a Syrian air force aircraft, alleging that it had crossed the ceasefire line. United Nations personnel did not observe the fighter aircraft over the area of separation or crossing the ceasefire line but saw a mid-air explosion followed by debris falling to the ground in an area east of Jaba in the area of limitation on the Bravo side.
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11. In the course of fighting and clashes between the Syrian armed forces and armed groups on 4 September, seven mortar rounds, fired from areas known to be strongholds of the armed groups, landed in and near United Nations observation post 56. Peacekeepers went into shelter. On 6 September, two individuals approached observation post 54 and made gestures of cutting throats towards the United Nations personnel at the post. The same was reported by United Nations position 80 on 18 October. UNDOF deployed peacekeepers at observation post 54 to enhance protection of the military observers. On 16 September, 11 armed individuals approached the gate of United Nations position Hermon South. They attempted to gain information about the personnel strength of the position and if or when United Nations personnel would vacate it. In addition, they were understood to be seeking refuge in the position, which was denied. The individuals stayed for about 40 minutes and thereafter left the area. On 4 October, two rounds, possibly fired by a tank from a north-eastern direction, landed 50 m south of United Nations observation post 51. The United Nations personnel at the post went into shelter immediately and heard a similar type of round land nearby.
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On 27 October, position 80 observed two IDF soldiers east of the technical fence returning from the direction of the Alpha line towards the technical fence. UNDOF observed IDF opening the technical fence gate and letting two individuals pass from the Bravo to the Alpha side. Following the evacuation of UNDOF personnel from position 85 on 28 August, UNDOF sporadically observed armed members of the opposition interacting with IDF across the ceasefire line in the vicinity of United Nations position 85.
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31. Armed opposition groups and other armed groups have expanded the area under their control in the area of separation, and remain present along the section of the main road connecting the two UNDOF camps. The crossing between the Alpha and the Bravo sides remains closed. It is critical that countries with influence continue to strongly convey to the armed groups in the UNDOF area of operations the need to cease any actions that jeopardize the safety and security of United Nations personnel on the ground, including firing at peacekeepers, threatening and detaining them, and to accord United Nations personnel the freedom to carry out their mandate safely and securely.
