- Security fears -
Since the Syrian war erupted in 2011, the plateau has been tense, with a growing number of rockets and mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, mostly stray, prompting occasional armed responses.
The Philippines, which has 331 troops serving in UNDOF, announced on Saturday that it would pull out of the peace force because of security concerns.
Filipino defence officials said no fresh troops would be sent once the current batch of soldiers returned from duty in October.
Last year, the Philippines said it was considering pulling its Golan peacekeepers out after 25 of them were kidnapped but later freed by Syrian rebels in two separate incidents.
In assessing the latest crisis, UN officials noted the safe release of the Filipino peacekeepers last year.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino described the situation in the Golan Heights as "tense" but also sought to calm fears about the fate of the Filipino troops.
"So far, we should not worry. The news is that the situation looks stable," Aquino said.
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