Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights trade fire with Syrian rebels

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino peacekeepers were locked in a firefight with Syrian rebels after more than 24 hours of standoff, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed on Saturday.

In its Facebook account, state-owned PTV network said position 68 where 40 Filipino peacekeepers are stationed is under attack by the rebels. Thirty-five other Filipinos are in position 69. So far, there are no casualties, the report added.

The military earlier said the 75 Filipinos surrounded by Syrian rebels in Golan Heights are ready to defend themselves if necessary.

Syrian militants took over the camp of 43 Fijian peacekeepers at the United Nations Disengagement Force at around 10 a.m. Syrian time (3 p.m. in the Philippines) on Friday. The group demanded that the Fijian peacekeepers surrender their firearms. The Fijian soldiers yielded and were subsequently taken hostage.

The Syrian anti-government forces then surrounded the Philippine peacekeepers' camps and also demanded the surrender of firearms, but the Filipinos resolved to defend their positions, resulting in a standoff.