Philippines commits to renewed UNDOF

MANILA, Philippines, June 25 (UPI) -- The Philippines announced it will send 336 peacekeepers to support the U.N. Disengagement Observer Forces in Syria, its largest deployment in years.

Hilario Davide Jr., the Philippines envoy to the United Nations, said the peacekeepers were reserved for UNDOF at the request of the United Nations. The peacekeepers will leave for their mission in September, the Manila Bulletin reports.

The U.N. Security Council earlier this week renewed the UNDOF mandate, which was enacted in 1974 to monitor a cease-fire between Israeli and Syria.

UNDOF monitors agreements under U.N. Security Council Resolution 350 that established the cease-fire ending the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said upon the UNDOF mandate renewal that, though situations in the region remain "generally quiet," both sides should work together to achieve a comprehensive peace.

Davide said the Philippine troops would replace a Polish force to work alongside troops from Austria, Canada, Croatia, Japan and India.

The Philippines contingent is its largest since 2001, when it sent more than 600 peacekeepers to aid the U.N. Transitional Administration in East Timor.