By Sean Curry

As of late, it seems the conditions in Syria have only been getting worse.  In a nation divided by civil war, this intra-national conflict has left over 70,000 dead and forced the number of refugees to soar well over 1,000,000.  This constant fighting occurring throughout the nation is only escalating with more death and more weeks like the past to come.  As the Friends of Syria convention, set to take place later this month in Rome, rapidly approaches it seems negotiations are in more desperate need than ever, especially preceding this past months events.

Besides the record-breaking amount of bomb attacks and violence that occurred in Syria this month, this week has proved even worse.  Rebel forces captured 21 U.N. peacekeepers and are holding them hostage somewhere within Golan Heights.  The 21 Hostages, all members of the peaceful and unarmed U.N. Disengagement Force who has been monitoring the border between Syria and Israel, were detained by 30 armed members of the Yarmouk Martyr’s Brigade.  This once peaceful relationship has been dismantled by accusations by rebel forces stating that the UN peacekeepers helped regime forces in and out of the Golan Heights region.  The Supreme Military Council, who has announced that they will be working towards the hostage’s freedom, has already condemned this hostage situation.  The rebels have agreed to release the hostages once the Syrian government forces have left the city of Al Jamlah, which is not likely to happen any time soon.  As of now the hostages remain in the custody of the Syrian rebels who await action from the opposition.

This event is yet another signal of the worsening conditions in Syria.  These peacekeepers were captured completely unarmed and are now being held for ransom by violent rebel forces.  The negotiations occurring later this month have taken on a new significance with this week’s event.  After almost two years of fighting, peace seems unattainable, and conditions worsen every day.  The rebels and government forces constantly strive for an upper hand in this conflict leaving a bloody trail of violence and brutality behind it.

Sources:The Wall Street Jounalhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324582804578344390338508294.html?mod=ITP_pageone_2CNNhttp://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?iref=allsearch Sean is a Freshman majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations minoring in Economics, Real Estate and Business.  He is a International Sector analyst for Cornell Current as well as a general body member of Cornell Concert Commission and The Mutual Investment Club of Cornell.  He can be reached at stc74@cornell.edu