Forty-three UN peacekeepers are being held captive by an armed group in the Israel-Syria border territory of Golan Heights while 81 others are locked in a standoff with militants, the United Nations said on Thursday.

The 43 Fijian blue helmets from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Forces (UNDOF) were apprehended on Thursday near Quneitra in Syria, while 81 Filipino peacekeepers held their ground near Burayqa and Ar Ruwayhina.

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The United Nations is working toward the release of the 43 peacekeepers, and in restoring the movement of the 81 UNDOF in the area, the UN said in a statement.

Fiji's army Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga said the 43 peacekeepers were safe and urged citizens to pray for their safe release.

Likewise, the Philippine military said on Friday that the 81 Filipino blue helmets are doing fine pending UN-led negotiations for their full release.

According to Philippine Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, the 81 peacekeepers refused to surrender their weapons after rebels had demanded they do so, resulting in a standoff.

The incident comes a day after rebel groups, including al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nursa Front, advanced on Syrian troops on Wednesday and seized the Syrian side of the border crossing. Quneitra is located in southwest Syria and is the sole crossing between Israel and Syria.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council condemned the detainment of the 43 Fijians and the "surrounding of positions" of the 81 Filipinos and demanded for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN peacekeepers.

It called on the international community to assist in efforts for the safe release of the UNDOFs.

While the identity of the bloc responsible for the attack has not been confirmed, the U.S. identified the al-Nursa Front when it condemned the ongoing violence in Golan Heights.

About 1,200 UNDAF peacekeepers - with troops from Fiji, India, Nepal, Ireland, the Netherlands and the Philippines - are deployed in the demilitarized zone in Golan Heights to monitor escalations in conflict.

Repeated clashes in the strategic border crossing have resulted in the apprehension and eventual release of peacekeepers in the past, including last year when four Filipino blue helmets were captured and released days after.

Earlier this week, American correspondent Peter Theo Curtis was handed over by terrorists to peacekeepers in the Syrian of the border.

Here is a video report from Newsline:

TagsUN peacekeepers, Golan Heights, Syrian crossing, United Nations Disengagement Observer Forces, UNDAF, Quneitra crossing, al-Nursa Front, UN, Filipino peacekeepers, Fijian peacekeepers