Philippine officials announced on Sunday that more than 70 Filipino U.N. peacekeepers escaped from al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels' assault after the seven-hour gun battle in Golan Heights. However, 45 Fijian forces remained captive by the insurgents, reports said.

Philippine military chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said in a statement that Irish and Filipino forces rescued 35 peacekeepers from a U.N. encampment in Breiqa Saturday and the remaining Filipino peacekeepers fled from a different encampment and safely away from any further threat.

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There were no Filipino casualties, Catapang added. He also commended the Filipino forces for exhibiting courage even if they were surrounded and outnumbered by the militants.

According to reports, the top Philippine military brass together with secretaries of defense and foreign affairs held a meeting at the capital’s military headquarters to guide the Filipino troops out of danger.

During the ceasefire, the 40 Filipino peacekeepers fled with their weapons and traveled for two hours across the chilly hills to meet up with other U.N. forces, who moved them to safety early Sunday, Philippine officials said.

Based on some sources, officials also said that the governments of Syria, Israel, the United States and Qatar provided support on the escape of the peacekeepers.

Catapang told the media that they call it the greatest escape.

Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with the Fiji Prime Minister on Sunday, saying the United Nations continues to seek immediate and unconditional release of the captive Fijian peacekeepers, reports confirmed.

The Fiji government spokeswoman Sharon Smith Johns said on Monday that the location of the Fijian peacekeepers remains unknown and the situation over there is very fluid.

The negotiations of Fijian forces continue at all levels and assured that the men were being treated well and not harmed, Fijian Army Commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga told a media conference in Fiji.

However, Tikoitoga claimed that they still cannot confirm the exact location of the captives, whether they are still in Syria or they are moved to neighboring countries, some reports confirmed.

TagsPhillipine peacekeepers, Golan Heights, Syrian rebels, U.N