Dozens of Fijian U.N. peacekeepers, released by al-Qaeda-linked group Nusra Front in Syria on Thursday, arrived in Israeli-held territory on the Golan heights, an Israeli military spokeswoman said.

The peacekeepers were taken hostage two weeks ago when several Islamist militant groups including Nusra attacked in the volatile frontier between Syria and Israel.

Nusra initially said it held the peacekeepers because they were aiding soldiers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

The head of Fiji's army said on Wednesday the Islamist militant group had dropped all of its demands to free the 45 hostages, but at least slightly back-pedalled later in the day as the situation appeared to deteriorate.

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