(Lilach Shoval/Israel Hayom/JNS.org) Israel has asked the United Nations to reinstate its Disengagement Observer Force on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights border, outgoing Northern Command Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Asher Ben-Lulu has confirmed to Israel Hayom.

UNDOF peacekeepers were first deployed on both sides of the Golan Heights border in 1974 as part of the Separation of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Under the agreement, UNDOF is the only force authorized to be in the buffer zone; its role is to monitor the military presence of both sides near the border.

However, UNDOF abandoned two-thirds of its border positions on the Syrian side four years ago. Ever since the withdrawal, UNDOF troops have largely been stationed on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights border, where they report to the United Nations on the movement of IDF forces.

With Assad’s forces having regained control of the Syrian Golan Heights, Israel wants UNDOF to return to the Syrian side of the border. Israel is also looking to open the Quneitra border crossing from time to time.