Syria mortars on Golan Heights hurt two UN peacekeepers
Israel hospital treating peacekeeping forces injured from apparent stray fire from Syrian civil war.
By REUTERS A UN observation tower is seen overlooking Syria, next to the Quneitra border crossing between the Golan Heights in Israel and Syria.(photo credit: REUTERS)
Mortar bombs launched from Syria wounded two United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights on Monday, the IDF said, in what appeared to be stray fire from Syrian civil war fighting.A military spokeswoman said the peacekeepers were taken for treatment at an Israeli hospital and that she had no further details on their condition or nationality. Israel Radio said they were wounded slightly.The spokeswoman said the mortar fire was apparently spillover fighting in Syria.The UN mission known as UNDOF - with about 800 soldiers from Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, and the Netherlands - was established in 1974. It monitors a cease-fire line on the Golan between Israel and Syria.UNDOF could not be reached for comment.Shells fired in battles between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels trying to topple him in four years of fighting have occasionally landed on the Golan.The last such incident was on Tuesday.
