Fiji apparently jumped the gun and is backing off of claims that its 45 United Nations peacekeepers would be freed soon.  Insurgents with the al Qaeda-linked al Nusra Front took the soldiers captive while they were on duty in the Golan Heights separating Syria and Israel.

Fiji’s military chief Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga had earlier claimed that the United Nations informed Fiji that the al Nusra Front had agreed to release the men later this week without any conditions or demands.  That would have been highly unusual, as the UN doesn’t comment on sensitive captive situations until they are resolved.  Fiji’s government also announced on social media that three senior military officers would arrive soon in the Golan Heights to receive the men.

But within hours, government officials asked local media to retract the story and Fiji’s social media carried the simple statement: “All efforts to release the Fijian peacekeepers are continuing.”

The reason or reasons for the faux pas are not clear.  But officials watching the situation are hoping Fiji’s actions doesn’t hurt the negotiations.  And some are wondering if such a small nation is even prepared to take part in a peace-keeping mission in an extremely volatile situation with a variety of enemies and shifting alliances – and if it’s even fair to ask such a country to do it.