ALMATY, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The third peacekeeping contingent of Kazakhstan's armed forces is being deployed to the Golan Heights, southwestern Syria, as part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force, the country's Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
A total of 139 servicemen are being deployed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ilyas Almatov, the ministry said.
More than 150 Kazakh peacekeepers are currently serving in seven UN missions across the Middle East and Africa as military observers, staff officers and members of a national contingent in the Golan Heights, it added.
In February 2024, the United Nations granted Kazakhstan a mandate for the independent deployment and operation of its peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights.
Following extensive preparations, a contingent of 139 Kazakh military personnel and 26 units of military equipment were deployed to the Golan Heights on March 14 of the same year. It was later replaced by the second contingent on April 10, 2025. ■
