Smilga was recalled after the United Nation decided to end the UNSMIS following a decision by the UN Security Council on 16 August not to renew its mandate.
"The Lithuanian officer carried out surveillance, patrol, watch, and other tasks related to the UNSMIS," the ministry said.
Major Smilga was delegated to the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria in the middle of June by posting him to an international military institution. A separate mandate by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania was not necessary for such a posting because the Lithuanian representative was not to be involved in the military operation directly. He was deployed on the basis of the order by the minister of national defense.
The UN sent 300 unarmed military observers to Syria in April but their mission was suspended in June after violence escalated and the number of observers was later reduced.
The international community has so far failed to resolve the bloody conflict in Syria due to disagreements between Western countries and China and Russia, with the latter two having so far blocked three proposed resolutions.
Over 20,000 people have already been killed in Syria during the conflict between President Bashar al Assad's regime and rebels. Western countries have said on numerous occasions al Assad should step down but he has received diplomatic support from Russia and China.
