Media Release
12 December 2012

New Zealand United Nations Military Observer Detained And Released in Syria

A New Zealand Army officer serving as a United Nations Military Observer was detained and released by armed men in Syria on Monday 10 December.

The officer was conducting a regular patrol north of the Syrian/Jordanian border to verify the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

His vehicle was stopped by unidentified armed men and he was detained with his Austrian colleague for approximately three hours, before being released by his captors.

The officer is unharmed and has returned to work.

The officer is part of the eight-strong New Zealand Defence Force contingent supporting the UN Truce Supervisory Organisation in the Middle East.

UNTSO is made up of unarmed military observers whose primary role is to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating and assist other UN peacekeeping operations in the region. The NZ Defence Force personnel are based in the Golan Heights, Israel and Southern Lebanon.

No further information about the incident will be made available.

ENDS