Hundreds of Syrian white helmets evacuated to Jordan by the Israeli army

in coordination with its American and European allies, evacuated hundreds of Syrian rescuers known as White Helmets, near its volatile border with Syria, in a complex and unique operation.

The evacuees on one side, advancing hostile Syrian troops and others by militants affiliated with the Islamic State group, were transported to Jordan, from where they should be resettled in Europe. and in Canada in the coming weeks.

Ayman, Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi said that 422 White Helmets volunteers were evacuated, instead of the 800 initially allowed for the operation. The Israeli army said that the night operation was "an exceptional humanitarian gesture" at the request of the United States and European allies because of an "immediate threat to lives [Syrians] ".

Britain said the operation was possible diplomatic efforts, commending the efforts of White Helmets volunteers to save lives in areas of opposition.

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Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign minister, calls the successful evacuation "fantastic news," and thanked Israel and Jordan in a tweet for acting promptly following the request. "White helmets," he said, "are the bravest of the brave and in a desperate situation, it's at least a glimmer of light." Hope. "

White Helmets members and their families were stranded along the border After the Syrian government's offensive in southwestern Syria that began in June, Raed Saleh White Helmets chief, also known as the Syrian Civil Defense, said a number of volunteers and their families had been evacuated from a dangerous and besieged area. not provided with exact figures.

C & # It was the first Israeli intervention of this kind in the long civil war in Syria, which is now in its eighth year. Although he sent aid to Syria and provided medical care to thousands of Syrians who reached the Golan Heights border, the Israeli army stated that its actions did not reflect the Israeli non-intervention policy in the Syrian war.

Unprecedented operation to provide protection and asylum to the allies of Western nations in the complex battlefield of Syria.

White Helmets have enjoyed support and education from the United States and other Western countries for years.

Because of their work in the opposition areas, where they were almost exclusively the only ones to offer rescue services to the government Military progress was considered the # 1 public enemy by the Syrian government.

They offered services where institutions and state services are non-existent. Their facilities were targeted, and their volunteers were attacked in what became known as "double taps" attacks that drew volunteers into attack areas only to hit them once on the site. The White Helmets, "terrorists," accused them of being "agents" of foreign powers and of cooperating with radical insurgent groups. Moscow and Damascus have accused the white helmets of organizing rescue missions and chemical attacks against the government.

On Sunday, the state-run media continued their campaign against the group, pointing out that the involvement of Israel – who facilitated the evacuation and with whom Syria is officially at war – was the proof that the group was collaborating with an enemy power. Syrian public television al-Ikhbariya called the evacuation a "scandal". The official SANA news agency said the group's "secret" had been revealed and their "agent role had stopped".

Syrian MP Khaled Abboud declared that "foreign powers remove their agents from the battlefield". Syrian military victories that canceled "aggression" against Syria

In a swift offensive, Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air forces, advance from east to areas held by Syria. Opposition in the strategic area of ​​the south-west Jordanian border and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel in 1967. They first seized the border with Jordan, squeezing the opposition to the center and s & d. Gradually taking over areas that the rebels had held for years. For the first time since the beginning of the war in 2011, government forces regained positions along the line of demarcation after a ceasefire agreement with Israel in 1974.

Since the beginning of On the offensive, Jordan said that he will not open his borders to newly displaced Syrians. Jordan is hosting at least 650,000 registered Syrian refugees, according to the UN, but Amman says that a similar number of undocumented Syrians are also in the kingdom.

About 300,000 were displaced by the fighting, with only a few thousand opting for evacuation. Idlib, who should be the target of the next government offensive

Aron Lund, a Syrian expert from the Century Foundation, said that after funding and promoting the White Helmets for years, the company said it will not be able to do anything. evacuation should not be a surprise. [19659005"Ilmesembleévidentquelorsquelesoulèvementsesoldeparunéchecilsdevraientessayerdesortirleurstypesvivantsavecleursfamilles"didildit"Silacommunautéinternationaleavaitfaitcelabeaucoupplustôtetoffraitégalementunrefugeauxchefsrebellesqu'ilssoutenaientilsauraientpuaideràsortirlesinconciliablesdel'équationetàréduirelenombredetueriesetdedestructions"

"All parties benefit from giving the & # 39; losing team a safe exit," he added.

– AAP