Firefight erupts between Syrian rebels and Philippine peacekeepers in Golan Heights

MANILA - Reuters

European members of UNDOF use binoculars to watch the Syrian side of the Golan Heights after Syrian rebel fighters took control of the Quneitra checkpoint between Israel and Syria. AFP photo

A firefight erupted on Aug. 30 between a group of Philippine peacekeepers trapped in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Islamist militants who were surrounding their position, the defense chief of the Philippines said. 

About 40 Philippine troops manning one of two camps on the Syrian side of the frontier, identified as camp 68, came under attack at around 6 a.m. local time, Voltaire Gazmin told reporters via a mobile phone text message. 

Another defense official said all the Philippine troops were safe. 

A further 35 Philippines troops were at another site, known as camp 69, about 4 km away but were not engaged in the firefight. 

The troops are part of UNDOF, a U.N. force that has monitored the disengagement zone between Israel and Syria since 1974 in the wake of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. 

U.N. officials are trying to establish the whereabouts of 44 Fijian peacekeepers, also part of UNDOF, seized by al Qaeda-linked militants this week along the rocky frontier between Syria and the Golan Heights. 

The Philippine troops, however, have held their ground for about 48 hours and have refused to give up their arms to the militants. 

"There was a firefight but I would like to assure everyone that our troops are safe at the moment," said Ramon Zagala, chief of the Armed Forces public affairs office. He did not give any more details. 

The Fijian peacekeepers were captured from their post about eight kilometers away from the Philippine troops.