REPORT: Dozens of UN Soldiers Were Kidnapped Near the Quneitra Crossing

A radical Islamist organization affiliated with Al Qaeda kidnapped dozens of UN forces stationed in Syria, the Arabic language media reported. The kidnappings apparently took place in the framework of the fierce fighting between rebel forces and Assad’s near the border crossing with Israel.

Aug 28, 2014, 04:55PM | Rachel Avraham

UN forces in Quneitra Photo Credit: Reuters/Channel 2

The Arabic language media reported that the extremist Islamist organization the Al Nusra Front, which led the fighting against Assad’s forces along the Border Crossing, kidnapped several dozen UNDOF forces, which is responsible for maintaining security within the region.

From the reports on this subject, it is not clear when the UN forces were taken prisoner. Yesterday, the Al Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, took over the Syrian side of the border crossing, which was actually the last area along the border that was still in Assad’s hands.

According to the report, the rebels had begun firing artillery shells at Assad’s forces in Quneitra and then proceeded to gain control of the Syrian side of the border crossing, which mostly serves the UN forces in the region. The rebels claim that they took control of the city, but the UN argued that they cannot permit the city and the border crossing to fall into their hands.

Earlier in the day, the Arabic language media reported that aircraft belonging to Bashar Assad attacked during the night several locations under the control of the rebels near the Syrian-Israeli border. The attack from Assad’s military occurred in the background of the battle against rebel forces near the border.