Filipino UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights have been attacked by Syrian rebels who are also holding dozens of Fijian troops hostage.

The Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin informed reporters on Saturday that Filipino troops operating in one UN encampment have been “extricated,” while soldiers in another encampment were “now under attack”. Gazmin said the attack started early on Saturday Syrian time.

Syrian rebels have seized 44 Fijian peacekeepers two days ago and have demanded for 75 Filipinos operating within two separate UN encampments to hand over their weapons, which they rebuffed.