Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop Speaks At A News Conference at AUSMIN Meeting At Admiralty House In Sydney
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop speaks during a joint news conference with Australian Defence Minister David Johnston, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (not pictured) at the conclusion of the AUSMIN meeting at Admiralty House in Sydney August 12, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Australia welcomed the release of 45 Fijian peacekeepers who had been freed unconditionally in Syria on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop earlier commended the efforts of the UN Disengagement Observer Force peacekeepers. "I commend the courage and bravery of the peacekeepers and the strong support shown by their families and friends in Fiji during this difficult time. I also commend the Fiji government for its resolute commitment to ensuring the release of its soldiers and for its handling of the situation," she said. The peacekeepers were monitoring the 1974 ceasefire between Syria and Israel at Golan Heights, IANS Live reported.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his gratitude for the release. He did not name anyone specifically but thanked everyone "concerned" that had worked for it. He asked everyone to respect the UN mandate. His official statement said that peacekeepers should be allowed to operate freely without getting their safety compromised.

ABC News earlier reported that the peacekeepers had been released by militants linked to Al-Qaida. It was on Aug 28 that the UN peacekeepers were captured by al-Nusra Front, the militant group that had been fighting against the Syria government on the Syrian-controlled territory of the Golan Heights. The UN force with around 1,200 personnel has been monitoring the region for the past 40 years. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric earlier said that the militants had not asked for any demand before releasing the peacekeepers. "No ransom was paid," Dujarric said, "All the 45 peacekeepers are in good condition and will proceed back to Camp Foar for medical assessment."

Qatar, one of the major supporters of al-Nusra rebels for the purpose of dethroning Syrian President Bashar Assad, claimed that it had had a role to play in the release of the UN peacekeepers. According to Qatar News Agency, the Middle Eastern nation "succeeded in the release of the Fijian soldiers" after Fiji had asked for Qatar's help to mediate with the rebels.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama appreciated that the peacekeepers had kept their cool under the circumstances. He also praised them for their discipline which had kept them unharmed. Bainimarama called them "heroes" who had undergone "most extreme circumstances imaginable."

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au