Attack on UN Peacekeepers Near Beirut Airport in Lebanon – Allegations Against Hezbollah Supporters

Attack on UN Peacekeepers Near Beirut Airport in Lebanon – Allegations Against Hezbollah Supporters

The deputy commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was attacked on Friday night while en route to Beirut Airport. In the attack, a UN vehicle was set on fire, and UNIFIL Deputy Commander Major-General Chok Bahadur Dhakal was injured. He was on his way to leave Lebanon for Nepal after completing his mission when the attack took place.

The protesters, believed to be supporters of Hezbollah, blocked the road to Beirut Airport. The protest was sparked by a decision from the Lebanese government to prevent Iranian planes from landing at Beirut Airport due to allegations from the Israeli military that Iran was using commercial flights to send funds to Hezbollah.

The Lebanese army announced that Major-General Hassan Odeh had contacted UNIFIL and pledged to work on arresting the perpetrators. The Lebanese government has also called for an emergency meeting regarding the attack, describing it as a "crime" against the UN peacekeeping forces.

The United States condemned the attack, stating, "This attack on peacekeepers resulted in multiple injuries." The U.S. praised the swift response of UNIFIL and the Lebanese government’s commitment to hold those responsible accountable.

Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack and, through a statement from al-Manar TV, blamed "unruly elements" for causing chaos with "suspicious objectives" on the Beirut Airport road. Additionally, the Amal Movement, the political party of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, called the attack an assault on southern Lebanon and urged the army and security forces to pursue the perpetrators.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 to monitor Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Its mission was expanded after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war to allow peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border and assist the Lebanese military in extending its authority over the southern region for the first time in decades.