Middle East

UN staff member 'missing' in occupied Golan

UN says a member of its peacekeeping force based in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is missing.
Last Modified: 25 Feb 2013 22:28
Israel invaded the Syrian territory of the Golan Heights in 1967 and has occupied them ever since [AFP]

The United Nations says a member of the UN peacekeeping mission monitoring the separation zone between Israeli and
Syrian troops on the occupied Golan Heights is missing.

"We can confirm that a staff member is not accounted for and we are in touch with the relevant parties to determine what has happened," UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said on Monday. "We have no further comment at this time."

The UN would not say whether the missing person was a peacekeeper or a civilian staff member.

The UN force was established in 1974, following the 1973 Yom Kippur war.

Israel occupied the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and Syria wants the land returned.

In December, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused the Syrian government of serious violations of the separation agreement.

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