The UN Security Council condemned on Thursday the clashes in the Golan Heights at the Syrian-Israeli border and the injuring of the peacekeeping mission of UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
In a statement by the UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all parties, "to respect UNDOF’s freedom of movement and safety and security," and underlined that any military activity in the area of separation has the potential to escalate tensions between Israel and Syria and to jeopardize the long-held ceasefire between the two countries.
Ban said he regretted Austria’s decision to withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights, which had faced a number of security risks and operational challenges in recent months amid the escalating conflict in Syria.
UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told that 911 soldiers took active role in the UNDOF and that Australia decided to withdraw its troops, 377 soldiers from the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights and added that the Philippines did not decide to withdraw their troops yet.
Austria is one of three countries – along with India and the Philippines – that contribute military personnel to UNDOF, which monitors the 1974 disengagement accord between Syria and Israel after their 1973 war.
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