Beirut: Deputy Commander UN Peacekeeping Mission Injured In Attack On Convoy

In a huge embarrassment for Lebanese authorities, the outgoing deputy force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was injured on Friday after a convoy carrying peacekeepers to Beirut airport was “violently attacked”, UNIFIL said.

The mission demanded a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, it said in a statement.

Lebanese state news agency NNA reported Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar called for an emergency meeting before noon on Saturday to discuss the security situation.

“He affirmed the Lebanese government’s rejection of this assault that is considered a crime against UNIFIL forces,” NNA reported, citing the Lebanese minister.

He also gave instructions to work on identifying the perpetrators and referring them to the relevant judicial authorities.

The United States condemned the attack that it said wounded U.N. peacekeepers. The State Department statement said the attack was carried out “reportedly by a group of Hezbollah supporters”, referring to the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.

UN peace keepers have faced attacks in different countries that they have been deployed, in the past. The current attack comes at a wrong time, with all the initiatives for peace finding some purchase for a change, in the war-torn region.

Team BharatShakti

(With Inputs from Reuters)