A top commander of the US-backed UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon was injured when protesters attacked a convoy taking him to Beirut airport on Friday. The incident occurred amid tensions over Lebanon’s decision to revoke permission for an Iranian plane to fly to the country, leaving dozens stranded.
The protesters, who had been blocking roads and airports, targeted the UNIFIL convoy, which was carrying Major General Chok Bahadur Dhakal from Nepal, who was set to leave his post. The Lebanese army intervened to disperse the crowd and promised to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.
The ban on the Iranian plane comes after Israel accused Iran of smuggling cash to Hezbollah via civilian flights, leading some in Lebanon to claim their country’s authorities had caved under pressure from Israel.
Despite this, the US representative on a committee overseeing the ceasefire agreement said significant progress had been made ahead of the deadline. However, there remains ambiguity over whether all Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon by February 18, as promised.
The incident is the latest in a series of protests in Lebanon against the Iranian plane ban and comes amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The UN peacekeeping force has faced criticism for allegedly turning a blind eye to Hezbollah’s military activities in southern Lebanon.
In December last year, an Irish peacekeeper was killed in a mob attack on a UNIFIL convoy. This incident highlights the risks faced by UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, where they are tasked with ensuring Hezbollah does not re-establish a military presence in areas where Israeli forces have withdrawn.
Source: https://www.wral.com/story/top-commander-with-un-peacekeeping-force-in-lebanon-is-injured-by-protesters/21860633