UN to decide on withdrawal of Kazakhstani peacekeepers from Golan Heights

Despite tensions in the Golan Heights, the area remains stable, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense. The ministry noted that any decision regarding the evacuation of Kazakhstani peacekeepers would be considered, if necessary, by UN leadership upon the recommendation of the mission command.

«The mission personnel are performing their duties in accordance with the mandate. Authorized representatives of the UN Disengagement Observer Force remain in constant communication with both the Syrian and Israeli sides,» the ministry stated.

The ministry also highlighted that safety measures for the servicemen have already been put in place. Additionally, it is actively monitoring developments in the region while maintaining contact with Kazakhstan’s peacekeepers.

On Dec. 8, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that its military has temporarily seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights. He stated that the 1974 Agreement of Disengagement with Syria had effectively collapsed with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Bashar al-Assad left the country on Sunday amid a successful offensive by opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group banned in Kazakhstan.

In March, Kazakhstani servicemen arrived in the Golan Heights on a peacekeeping mission. The detachment comprises 139 military personnel, who are scheduled to serve for one year in the region.

The Golan Heights is a disputed territory in the Middle East. While most of it is currently occupied by Israel, the eastern part remains under Syrian control.