81 PHL troops trapped, 43 UN peacekeepers seized in Golan Heights
Philippine peacekeepers in the Golan Heights refused to lay down arms in the face of demands by Syrian militants and are in a standoff that the United Nations is trying to resolve, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said early Friday morning.
In a press statement, the AFP said Syrian anti-government armed elements occupied positions held by Fijian peacekeepers and demanded they surrender their firearms. The 43 Fijian peacekeepers have been taken hostage.
"The Philippine peacekeepers held their ground and demonstrated their resolve to defend their positions. They did not surrender their firearms as they may, in turn, be held hostage themselves," the AFP said.
"The Philippine government and the United Nations are in close coordination and are working together to ensure the safety and security of our troops," the military also said.
The Philippines, which has 331 troops serving in UNDOF, announced on Saturday that it will pull out of the peace force, citing security concerns.
Philippine defense officials said no fresh troops would be sent to serve in UNDOF once the current soldiers return from duty in October.
Six countries contribute troops to 1,200-strong UNDOF: Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines.
Last year the Philippines also considered pulling its Golan peacekeepers out after 25 of them were kidnapped but later freed by Syrian rebels in two separate incidents. A Filipino soldier was also wounded by a wayward shell last year.
Quneitra plateau
Syrian rebels, including fighters from the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra front, stormed the crossing at Quneitra on Wednesday, sparking an exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops.
"Forty-three peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were detained early this morning by an armed group in the vicinity of Quneitra," a UN statement said.
An additional 81 peacekeepers were "currently being restricted to their positions in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah," it added.
UN officials noted that the peacekeepers monitoring the armistice line between Israel and Syria were detained twice last year and released safely.
"The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers and to restore the full freedom of movement of the force throughout its area of operation," it added.
In June 2013, there was a similar takeover of the crossing by rebel forces, but the Syrian army managed to regain control.
On the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan, an AFP correspondent saw six white UN vehicles crossing the ceasefire line into Syrian territory through a gate in the fence some 25 kilometers south of the Quneitra crossing.
Quneitra is the only crossing between the Syrian and the Israeli-controlled side of the strategic plateau.
Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, the plateau has been tense, with a growing number of rockets and mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, mostly stray, prompting occasional armed responses.
During fighting on Wednesday, several mortars landed in or near UN positions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Israel, which has yet to sign a peace deal with Syria, seized 1,200 square kilometers of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community. — Jonathan de Santos with a report from Agence France-Presse, GMA News
In a press statement, the AFP said Syrian anti-government armed elements occupied positions held by Fijian peacekeepers and demanded they surrender their firearms. The 43 Fijian peacekeepers have been taken hostage.
"The Philippine peacekeepers held their ground and demonstrated their resolve to defend their positions. They did not surrender their firearms as they may, in turn, be held hostage themselves," the AFP said.
"The Philippine government and the United Nations are in close coordination and are working together to ensure the safety and security of our troops," the military also said.
The Philippines, which has 331 troops serving in UNDOF, announced on Saturday that it will pull out of the peace force, citing security concerns.
Philippine defense officials said no fresh troops would be sent to serve in UNDOF once the current soldiers return from duty in October.
Six countries contribute troops to 1,200-strong UNDOF: Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines.
Last year the Philippines also considered pulling its Golan peacekeepers out after 25 of them were kidnapped but later freed by Syrian rebels in two separate incidents. A Filipino soldier was also wounded by a wayward shell last year.
Quneitra plateau
Syrian rebels, including fighters from the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra front, stormed the crossing at Quneitra on Wednesday, sparking an exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops.
"Forty-three peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were detained early this morning by an armed group in the vicinity of Quneitra," a UN statement said.
An additional 81 peacekeepers were "currently being restricted to their positions in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah," it added.
UN officials noted that the peacekeepers monitoring the armistice line between Israel and Syria were detained twice last year and released safely.
"The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers and to restore the full freedom of movement of the force throughout its area of operation," it added.
In June 2013, there was a similar takeover of the crossing by rebel forces, but the Syrian army managed to regain control.
On the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan, an AFP correspondent saw six white UN vehicles crossing the ceasefire line into Syrian territory through a gate in the fence some 25 kilometers south of the Quneitra crossing.
Quneitra is the only crossing between the Syrian and the Israeli-controlled side of the strategic plateau.
Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, the plateau has been tense, with a growing number of rockets and mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, mostly stray, prompting occasional armed responses.
During fighting on Wednesday, several mortars landed in or near UN positions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Israel, which has yet to sign a peace deal with Syria, seized 1,200 square kilometers of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community. — Jonathan de Santos with a report from Agence France-Presse, GMA News
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