300 White Helmets leave for West

Around 300 Syrian “White Helmet” rescue workers who fled Syria for Jordan three months ago have now left for resettlement in Western countries, a Jordanian foreign ministry statement said yesterday.

In July, the workers, fleeing advancing Russian-backed Syrian regime troops, slipped over Israeli-occupied Golan Heights frontier and into Jordan, aided by Israeli occupation soldiers and Western powers.

Jordan had accepted them after getting guarantees that their stay would be temporary and they would be given asylum in Canada, Germany and Britain, Jordanian officials said.

The White Helmets, known officially as Syria Civil Defence, have been credited with saving thousands of people in rebel-held areas.