"Given the complicated situation in the Golan Heights, we'd be able to replace the Austrian units which is leaving the region," Putin told a meeting with army commanders.

　　Austria is one of three countries - along with India and the Philippines - that contribute military personnel to the 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

　　Putin added that Russia could undertake such an operation only upon request from the UN and with the permission of the countries concerned.

　　The Golan Heights were occupied by Israel since 1973. The UNDOF has been monitoring the ceasefire between Syria and Israel since May 1974.

　　The UNDOF has faced a number of security risks and operational challenges in recent months amid the escalating conflicts in Syria, which have led to an Austrian decision to pull its 377 troops from the mission.

　　Related:

　　Austria to withdraw peacekeepers from Golan Heights

　　VIENNA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Austrian UN troops should be brought back from the Golan Heights "as soon as possible," Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said at a press conference in Vienna Thursday.

　　Spindelegger was joined by Chancellor Werner Faymann and Defence Minister Gerald Klug, who said the first troops would be brought back on June 11. Full story

　　Security Council slams attacks on UN peacekeepers in Golan Heights

　　UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday voiced its strong condemnation of "the intense fighting" in the separation area between Israel and Syria, including the attack leading to injuries of two UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights.

　　"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned intense fighting in the Area of Separation, including the attack which led to injuries suffered by two UNDOF peacekeepers on June 6," the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement issued here. Full story

　　Syrian troops repel rebels' attempt to control border point with Israeli-occupied city

　　DAMASCUS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian troops repelled on Thursday the armed rebels' attempt to control a border point between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the state- media said.

　　Quoting an official source, SANA said that large numbers of rebels were killed and others injured during the showdown at the Quneitra border crossing on the Golan Heights. It noted that the army continued to hunt down rebel fighters who fled towards the adjacent al-Qahtaniyeh village.