UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. peacekeeping department asked Austria Thursday to delay its full troop withdrawal from the Golan Heights until at least the end of July to keep key positions manned and ensure a smooth transition with incoming troops.

Austria announced it would pull out its 377 peacekeepers from the 911-member U.N. force after fighting from the Syrian civil war threatened their positions last week. The first contingent, of between 60 and 80 troops, left on Wednesday and Austria had said the withdrawal would be complete in two to four weeks.