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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Army, Rebels Clash as U.N. Bids to Free Golan Monitors
2014-09-02
[AnNahar] Syrian troops and Salafist tough guys battled close to the armistice line with Israel in the Golan Heights on Monday, as the U.N. pressed efforts to free 44 peacekeepers held by the Lion of Islams.

The unrest on Israel's doorstep followed a spillover of mortar and gunfire into Israeli-controlled territory, putting the Jewish state on high alert and prompting it to shoot down a drone over the occupied plateau on Sunday.

Several mortar rounds struck on the edges of the ceasefire line early Monday as the combatants exchanged rocket, mortar and tank fire near the Quneitra crossing, which Al-Qaeda-linked rebels seized last week, an AFP correspondent reported.

Israel had closed off the area around the crossing after an officer was maimed by stray fire last Wednesday when holy warriors led by the Al-Nusra Front took over the crossing into the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britannia-based monitoring group, said Nusra fighters were locked in fierce festivities with government troops for control of the Hamidiyeh area in Quneitra, the army's remaining stronghold there.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the Syrian regime, said the army was "confronting attempts by Al-Nusra fighters and other terrorist groups" to take control of Hamidiyeh.

Meanwhile the U.N. was working to locate and release 44 Fijian peacekeepers whom the holy warriors captured while they overran Quneitra, as 72 Filipino members of the same force escaped a rebel siege on their positions nearby.

The Fijians were "safe" but their whereabouts uncertain, a military official said Saturday, indicating there was contact with the group that was holding them.
Posted by:trailing wife

#3  The Philipino soldiers were good enough to say FTS when ordered to surrender. Also have a bit of a jihad deal going on in their own land.

As for the Fijians, the Europeans were afraid to explore that area on account of their ferocity. In the face of certain death, they followed orders and layed down their weapons.

As for the costumes, there is no way that ISJV could have mistaked them for anyone other than UN. Suggests to me the bad guys were looking for captives and attempting a breach into Israel.

The interesting part though, is that when it became time to pop stars and look for the cavalry - Assad answered.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2014-09-02 20:24  

#2  Serious business being a professional soldier...a bit more to it than wearing funny hats and shower shoes.

You've worked with the Filipino military, Mr. Goober Poodle7799? You'll enjoy comparing notes with 49 Pan then -- he spent time with them when he was an Army Ranger. It's odd, though, and perhaps I misunderstood his comments on the subject, but I was under the impression he greatly respected the troops he worked with.
Posted by: trailing wife   2014-09-02 17:59  

#1  Filipinos and Fijians ? And little blue helmets. Waiters and Surf board instructors ? Well, think of the experience their military is gaining? Might even turn them into Professional soldiers if they get the right instructors. Serious business being a professional soldier...a bit more to it than wearing funny hats and shower shoes.
Posted by: Goober Poodle7799   2014-09-02 12:46  

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