BREAKING NEWS

Rebels control majority of Syrian side of Golan Heights

By JPOST.COM STAFF

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014 15:23

As clashes between Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and opposition fighters raged on in the Quneitra Crossing, which marks the border between Syria and Israel, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that rebel groups now control the vast majority of the border with Israel.

Rami Abdul Rahman, who heads the organization, said Assad's regime has lost control of nearly 80 percent of the villages and towns near the crossing, as rebels have managed to seize most of the area.

While the Syrian army was vying to gain back control, Abdul Rahman said the province could be the second to fall into the hands of rebels, after Islamic State overran the northern Raqqa province.

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition groups said earlier, that Qatar had paid $25 million in ransom for the release of 45 Fijian UN peacekeepers, who were held captive by Al Nusra Front militants in the Golan Heights.

The Qatari government announced on Saturday it was behind efforts to release 45 Fijian UN observers, who were abducted by Al Nusra Front militants in the Golan Heights last month.

In an official statement, Doha said it mediated negotiations with the rebel group, at the request of the Fiji government.

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