Militants linked to al-Qaeda launched a fresh attack Thursday against posts manned by Syrian government forces in the Golan Heights, as the fate of 45 detained UN peacekeepers remained unknown.
“The battles are concentrated at the outskirts of Quneitra and the regime forces are shelling the area heavily,” the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told dpa.
A stray projectile from the fighting in Quneitra landed in an open area on the Israeli-controlled side of the strategic Golan Heights plateau, prompting retaliatory Israeli shelling, the military said.
The stray shell also sent sirens wailing in communities on the Israeli-controlled side of the Golan.
Israel responded by targeting a Syrian Army position from which it said the shell originated.
Meanwhile, 45 UN peacekeepers are still being held by al-Nusra Front in Quneitra.
The Fijian peacekeepers, serving with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) that monitors a ceasefire established in 1974 between Israel and Syria, were detained on August 28.
Abdel Rahman expressed concern for the safety of the peacekeepers amid the ongoing battles in various areas of Quneitra.
“We do not know where the peacekeepers are being held, but the heavy shelling on the various rebel-held areas in Quneitra by the regime forces is causing concern for the safety of the peacekeepers,” he said.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the peacekeepers.
“The UN is continuing to look at ways to enhance safety and security procedures in what has become a very challenging situation,” a UN statement said.
Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, called on countries with influence “to strongly convey to those responsible to immediately release the peacekeepers.”
Meanwhile, the Syrian military on Thursday targeted a rebel-held neighbourhood on the outskirts of Damascus, the Observatory said, prompting the opposition to call on the international community to save the besieged civilians.
Opposition activists posted video footage online showing the area of Joubar covered with smoke because of the intensity of the shelling.
Abdel-Rahman described Joubar as the most important rebel-held area outside the capital.
“The area of Joubar is key for both sides. For the rebels, Joubar is the closet point to Damascus, while for the regime entering the area will be key a victory for them in their battles to clear all areas close to the Syrian capital from opposition fighters,” he said.
While the Observatory had no information on the exact number of civilians still trapped in the area, the opposition Syrian National Coalition said there are hundreds of stranded civilians.
The coalition called on the international community “to take urgent action to stop the systematic destruction by Syrian regime forces [of] … Joubar and rescue civilians.”
The opposition said the area has been under siege for two years by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.
State television reported that the military was attempting to free Joubar from “terrorists.”
GNA
PDC
