An initial group of 35 Filipino troops were picked up from their position by Irish UN soldiers in armoured vehicles on Saturday after Syrian rebels attacked their comrades positioned about four kilometres (two-and-a-half miles) away, said the Philippine military. The remaining 40 soldiers engaged in a seven-hour firefight with rebels who tried to ram the gates with pick-up trucks carrying anti-aircraft guns. The soldiers, who were armed only with machine-guns and rifles, held off the rebels who even used a mortar to shell their positions, Ancan said. The troops later walked to safety to a UN position just over two kilometres away. In a statement, the UN said the 40 Filipino peacekeepers withdrew shortly after midnight during a ceasefire agreed with the armed elements. They later moved to Camp Ziouani behind UN lines. There is no more standoff. All are safe, Zagala told AFP. The troops, burdened by their equipment and the cold weather, walked for about an hour and 40 minutes in the dark to reach safety, he said in Manila.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 10:57:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015