A United Nations peacekeeping vehicle was torched in Beirut on Friday, amid a second day of protests by Hezbollah supporters. The incident occurred as the outgoing force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was injured after a convoy taking peacekeepers to the airport was “violently attacked”.
The Lebanese army vowed to take firm action against those responsible for the torching, with several areas around the airport witnessing demonstrations marked by vandalism and clashes. The incident has raised concerns about stability in the country.
A standoff between Lebanon and Iran has been ongoing since earlier this week, when Lebanon prevented an Iranian flight from landing in Beirut due to allegations of cash smuggling to Hezbollah. Iran responded by refusing to allow Lebanese flights to land until its own flights were cleared.
The torching of the UN vehicle comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Hezbollah remaining a contentious issue. The EU considers only the group’s militant wing to be a terror organization, while Lebanon has banned the party from participating in government.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-un-vehicle-torched-as-hezbollah-supporters-protest/a-71618228