The move by al-Qaeda’s Jabhat al-Nusra against UN monitors in the Golan Heights picked up pace today, when they attacked the Rwihana base, where 40 of the Philippines’ 75 troops were.
Irish troops who are part of a UN rapid response were sent in to rescue them, and all 75 of the Philippines troops are now reported to have crossed into neighboring Israeli territory.
There were unconfirmed reports of people killed in the fighting, though the Philippines maintains that there were no casualties at all. 44 Fijian troops previously captured by al-Nusra remain unaccounted for, and held in an unknown location.
UN officials condemned the detentions and demanded the immediate release of the Fijians, though there is no indication that is going to happen, especially after today’s fighting with other UN forces in the area.