Major-General Chok Bahadur Dhakal, the outgoing deputy commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was injured when protesters attacked his convoy, torching the vehicle he was travelling in to the Beirut airport. The attack occurred as demonstrators, believed to be Hezbollah supporters, blocked the road to the airport for a second day in protest against the Lebanese government’s decision to stop Iranian planes from landing in Beirut due to allegations of smuggling funds to Hezbollah.
UNIFIL condemned the attack as a violation of international law and possible war crime. The Lebanese army intervened and pledged to arrest and bring the attackers to justice. The United States also condemned the attack, attributing it to Hezbollah supporters.
Hezbollah attempted to distance itself from the attack, blaming “unruly elements” for causing chaos. Meanwhile, the Amal Movement, a Hezbollah ally, labeled the attack as an assault on southern Lebanon and called for the pursuit of the perpetrators by the army and security forces.
UNIFIL’s mission was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah to assist in extending the Lebanese military’s authority in the south, which has led to accusations of collusion from both Hezbollah and Israel. In the past, UNIFIL peacekeepers have faced attacks from Israeli forces during conflicts in the region.
The Lebanese government has called for an emergency meeting to address the security situation and to hold those responsible for the attack on UNIFIL accountable. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges faced by international peacekeeping forces in maintaining stability.
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