The incident appears to be the most serious to date involving U.N. peacekeepers during Syria’s almost two-year civil war.Victoria Nuland, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman, said Washington had been “conveying extremely strong messages to the Syrian opposition that this is absolutely unacceptable, and we demand their unconditional release…. This is not the appropriate way to deal with difficulties in Syria.”The U.N. Security Council and secretary-general also condemned the abduction and demanded that the detained troops be freed.The episode is being followed closely in the Philippines. President Benigno Aquino III told reporters that the peacekeepers were in good health and were expected to be released soon.
The rebels accused the U.N. of collaborating with the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The U.N. says its force is neutral.Amateur video of six members of the all-Filipino peacekeeping unit are shown inside what appears to be a residence in Jamla.One of the peacekeepers says in the video that the group stopped during heavy bombardment and some area civilians provided accommodation and food. He made no mention of the peacekeepers being held against their will.
The incident appears to be the most serious to date involving U.N. peacekeepers during Syria’s almost two-year civil war.Victoria Nuland, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman, said Washington had been “conveying extremely strong messages to the Syrian opposition that this is absolutely unacceptable, and we demand their unconditional release…. This is not the appropriate way to deal with difficulties in Syria.”The U.N. Security Council and secretary-general also condemned the abduction and demanded that the detained troops be freed.The episode is being followed closely in the Philippines. President Benigno Aquino III told reporters that the peacekeepers were in good health and were expected to be released soon.
The rebels accused the U.N. of collaborating with the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The U.N. says its force is neutral.Amateur video of six members of the all-Filipino peacekeeping unit are shown inside what appears to be a residence in Jamla.One of the peacekeepers says in the video that the group stopped during heavy bombardment and some area civilians provided accommodation and food. He made no mention of the peacekeepers being held against their will.