By Sarah Baafi
In the wake of an attack on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy, Lebanese authorities have arrested more than 25 individuals. The incident, which occurred near Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, resulted in injuries to peacekeepers, including the outgoing UNIFIL Deputy Force Commander.
On Friday, demonstrators assaulted a UNIFIL convoy transporting peacekeepers to the Beirut airport, resulting in injuries to the deputy commander. According to UNIFIL, the convoy was “violently attacked, and a vehicle was set on fire”. The peacekeeping force has called for a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities.
The Lebanese military intervened to disperse the crowd of protestors. Acting commander General Hassan Oh assured UNIFIL that efforts would be made to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The attack has been widely condemned. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “strongly” condemned the attack, emphasizing that “the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times”. Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, also condemned the attack and vowed to punish the perpetrators.
UNIFIL issued a statement declaring the attack as a “blatant breach of international law that could be classified as war crimes”. They also stated, “We are appalled by this shocking assault on peacekeepers who have been working to restore safety and stability in southern Lebanon during challenging times”.
The events unfolded amidst protests by Hezbollah supporters, who blocked access to Beirut’s airport for two consecutive days. The protests were sparked by the Lebanese government’s decision to prevent Iranian aircraft from landing in Beirut, after claims that Iran was funnelling money to Hezbollah using commercial flights.
