THE Israeli military has evacuated hundreds of rescue workers, known as the White Helmets, from the Syrian border and transported them to Jordan.

The volunteers were rescued from the volatile frontier area on the Golan Heights following a request by the United States and its European allies, according to officials.

It was the first such Israeli intervention in Syria’s civil war, now in its eight year.

Jordan confirmed the Syrian citizens entered its territory to be resettled in Western countries.

Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi said the total number of evacuees was 422, even though the initial request was to evacuate 800. It was unclear what happened to the remainder.

Safadi later tweeted that Jordan had approved the evacuations after a pledge from the UK, Germany and Canada that the Syrian evacuees would be resettled within three months.

The White Helmets and their families had been stranded along the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights following the Syrian government offensive in south-western Syria which commenced in June.

The group, which operates in opposition-held areas, is often targeted in Syrian government military attacks on its members and facilities.

The Syrian government considers the group a “terrorist” organisation because it works in areas controlled by its opponents, where state institutions are non-existent.

The Israeli military said the overnight operation was an “exceptional humanitarian gesture” done at the request of the United States and its European allies due to “an immediate threat to the (Syrians’) lives”.

The military believes its actions do not reflect a change to Israel’s non-intervention policy in Syria’s war, where all the warring parties are considered hostile.

Raed Saleh, head of the Syrian Civil Defence as the White Helmets are also known, said a number of volunteers and their families were evacuated from a dangerous, besieged area and had reached Jordan.