Syrian army forces have retaken control of the only border crossing between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights after it was seized earlier Thursday by terrorist groups.
Citing security sources, AFP news agency reported on Thursday that "The Syrian army has recovered control of the crossing. There are sounds of explosions from time to time but far less than in the morning."
The rarely used crossing, in an UN-patrolled demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, is the only transit point between Syrian and Israeli disengagement lines set in 1974. Battles for its control seemed likely to heighten Israeli security concerns stoked by crisis in Syria.
The border crossing is operated by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) near the Syrian city of Quneitra.
Austrians account for about 380 of the 1,000-strong UNDOF mission, and the Austrian spokesman said the peacekeepers had withdrawn to their bunkers and had suffered no casualties.
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