Philippines: Filipino peacekeepers and Syrian rebels clash in the Golan Heights
Filipino UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights who earlier had defied demands from Syrian rebels to surrender had figured in a clash Saturday morning in Syria, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said yesterday. He added in a text message to reporters that Filipino troops had been “extricated” from one of their two positions and that another group of Filipino soldiers “is now under attack.”
He was referring to two positions on the Golan Heights where more than 70 Filipino troops had previously been surrounded by Syrian rebels.
The peacekeepers were besieged by rebels on Thursday but defied demands that they give up their weapons. On Friday Syrian fighters took 43 Fijian soldiers hostage on the Golan Heights.
Asked if there was a fresh firefight Saturday, Gazmin replied: “Yes.”