The late-night rescue of members of humanitarian relief workers known as the White Helmets from Syria to Jordan earlier this week won praise from Western countries.
The group, known officially as Syria Civil Defence, has been widely hailed in the West and credited with saving thousands of people in rebel-held areas during years of bombing attacks by Damascus and its allies. Its members, known for their white helmets, say they are neutral. Many of the rescue workers and their families fled advancing government forces in southern Syria and slipped over the border into Jordan between early Sunday morning with the help of Israeli soldiers and Western powers.
Several hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a brief video statement that he had facilitated the evacuation at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders – and there had been fears that the workers' lives were at risk.
"The United States welcomes the safe evacuation of more than 400 members of the Syrian Civil Defense, otherwise known as the White Helmets, and their families from southwest Syria. We are glad that these brave volunteers, who have saved thousands of lives are now out of harm's way," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement on Sunday. "We deeply appreciate Israel's role in facilitating the transit of the White Helmets and their family members," she continued.
President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt also commended Israel: "Following a request from @potus [President of the United States] and other allied leaders, last night Israel conducted a daring humanitarian rescue from Syria of hundreds of 'White Helmets' personnel and their families and transferred them safely to Jordan.
"The Israel Defense Forces deserve special commendation for this – they managed to pull this operation together quickly and were focused on saving as many people as possible. Thank you as well to the Government of Jordan for their efforts," he tweeted on Sunday.
Britain hailed the evacuation, saying it and other allies had requested it. "Fantastic news that we – U.K. and friends – have secured evacuation of White Helmets and their families – thank you Israel and Jordan for acting so quickly on our request," tweeted British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The Syrian government on Monday condemned the evacuation of hundreds of Syrian White Helmet rescue workers and their families with the help of Israeli soldiers, calling it a "criminal operation."
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, citing a Damascus Foreign Ministry official, said the evacuation "exposed the true nature of the organization known as the White Helmets," calling it a risk to stability and security "because of its terrorist nature."
