UN soldiers seized by rebels in Golan Heights

Al-Qaeda linked Syrian rebels have been accused of seizing 43 UN soldiers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and trapped another 81 in the region, the UN has said.

The US said on Thursday it believed members of the Nusra Front were among those who captured 43 Fijian soldiers serving in the UN disengagement observer force near Quneitra, a crossing from Syria into Israeli-occupied territory.

A further 81 soldiers from the Philippines are understood to be under siege near Rwihinah. The Philippine government said its troops refused to give up their weapons when confronted.

The capture and standoff come after Syrian rebels, including Nusra Front fighters, stormed the Quneitra crossing on Wednesday, sparking an exchange of fire with Israeli troops.

In a statement, the US said it condemned the action by rebels groups "including the UN Security Council-designated terrorist group, the Nusra