A member of the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) keeps watch of the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing from an observation post in the Golan Heights August 28, 2014.

The Philippine defense chief said Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights were attacked by Syrian rebels who are holding dozens of Fijian troops hostage, the Associated Press reported.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters Saturday in a series of text messages that Filipino troops manning one U.N. encampment have been “extricated,” while soldiers in another encampment were “now under attack.”

He said the attack started early Saturday local time.
Gazmin did not say whether there were any casualties. Asked how the troops were doing, he said they had “high morale.”

The Syrian rebels have seized 44 Fijian peacekeepers and demanded that the 75 Filipinos manning two separate U.N. encampments surrender their weapons, but they have refused.

U.N. officials said Friday that they have received assurances that the 44 peacekeepers detained are safe and in good health.

Syrian armed fighters, including some linked to the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front, stormed a Golan Heights crossing on Wednesday, taking 44 troops from Fiji who were forced to surrender their weapons.

The United Nations did not say whether the 44 Fijian soldiers had been released, but a statement suggested progress was being made in negotiations to secure their freedom.

“The United Nations has received assurances from credible sources that 44 peacekeepers from UNDOF who were taken from their position… are safe and in good health,” said a statement from the spokesman.

“UNDOF has not yet had direct contact with the peacekeepers.”

It added that UNDOF officials had been “informed that the intention of those holding the peacekeepers was to remove them from an active battlefield to a safe area for their own protection.”

UNDOF has been in “regular contact” with 72 Filipino peacekeepers who were surrounded by the rebels on Thursday and who had refused to disarm.

They too “have not been harmed and are in good health,” he added.

The U.N. revised an earlier figure from 43 to 44 Fijians and from 75 to 72 Filipinos after checking leave records with the mission.

U.N. officials have been negotiating to secure the release of the blue helmets with the armed groups and countries that may have influence over them.

The U.N. Security Council has demanded the “unconditional and immediate release” of the peacekeepers and urged countries with influence to help win their release.

There are currently 1,200 peacekeepers serving in UNDOF from the Philippines, Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal and the Netherlands.

 
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