40 trapped UN peacekeepers arrive in safe location in Golan Heights

UNITED NATIONS (Xinhua) - The United Nations said here Saturday night that its 40 Philippine peacekeepers previously trapped by Islamist militants in the Golan Heights had arrived in a safe location.

After the rescue, more than 70 Philippine UN peacekeepers are now safely away from Islamist militants in the Golan Heights.

Earlier Saturday, "32 Filipino peacekeepers confined at United Nations Position 69 were extracted by the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and are safe and unharmed," a UN spokesman told reporters here.

"The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force reports that shortly after midnight local time on 31 August, during a ceasefire agreed with the armed elements, all the 40 Filipino peacekeepers from UN Position 68 left the position," the spokesman said in a note to the press here.

"The 40 peacekeepers arrived in a safe location one hour later," the spokesman said.

The group of UN peacekeepers, who manned the Position 68 in the Golan Heights, remained trapped on Saturday as they were surrounded by UN Security Council-designated terrorist groups and non-state armed actors, the world body said.

However, 44 peacekeepers from Fiji, who were captured by armed Syrian rebels, remained seized by Islamist militants.

At present, efforts are in full swing in order to secure their early release, UN officials said here.

Earlier Saturday, the UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon both strongly condemned the attacks on the UN positions and continuing detention of UN peacekeepers who are serving in UNDOF along the demarcation line between Syria and the Golan Heights.

The trouble there started after armed rebels, including the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, seized control of the Quneitra border crossing, the only one in the area, from the Syrian government troops on Wednesday.

The UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights were attacked by "armed elements" on Saturday morning "with mortar and heavy machine gun fire," as efforts are intensified to achieve the safe release of 44 blue helmets detained on Thursday.

There are no reported casualties among personnel of UNDOF, the spokesman told reporters here earlier Saturday.

According to UNDOF, its Force Reaction Group was deployed to UN Position 69, which was fired on by armed elements. All 32 Filipino UN personnel from this position have been extricated and are now safe.

Armed elements also attacked UN Position 68 with mortar and heavy machine gun fire. The UN peacekeepers returned fire and prevented the attackers from entering the position.

UNDOF has also withdrawn personnel from one of its observation posts as a precautionary measure after firing in the vicinity.

Twenty-five Philippine peacekeepers serving with UNDOF were detained by armed elements in March and May of 2013. They were released safely shortly afterward.

Peacekeepers serving with UNDOF monitor the 1974 disengagement accord between Syria and Israel after their 1973 war. As of July 31, there are 1,223 peacekeepers from six countries - Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines - serving in the force.

In June, the UN Security Council extended UNDOF's mandate for another six months, until Dec. 31,  2014.