New Europe reports the Austrian peacekeepers in the demilitarized zone of Golan Heights are withdrawing from the area due to safety reasons and a lack of freedom of movement.
The tension is rising in the Golan Heights, says New Europe, as the Syrian rebels seized the Quneitra crossing late last week in an incident that injured two of the UN peacekeepers. After the incident, Austria announced its intention to remove its troops from the area.
On 11 June, al Jazeera reported that the Austrian peacekeepers left Golan Heights and headed to the main UN base on the Israeli side. New Europe adds, Austria is expected to remove all of its UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) troops sent in the area later this month.