Several Malaysian soldiers in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon are reported injured after an explosion at a checkpoint in southern Lebanon, according to Defense Minister Khaled Nordin. The incident, which has raised concerns about the security of the UN peacekeepers, has been attributed to an Israeli airstrike in the area.
According to FMT, the affected soldiers belong to the Malaysian Battalion 850-12 (Malbatt 850-12), a contingent that departed Malaysia just yesterday as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. The incident occurred in the Lebanese city of Sidon, where Reuters reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle, killing three Lebanese civilians, injuring three Lebanese soldiers, and wounding four Malaysian peacekeepers who were passing through the area.
According to the Lebanese army, the airstrike struck a car as it passed through a checkpoint. The blast killed the three Lebanese civilians inside the vehicle and wounded several soldiers stationed at the checkpoint, including the Malaysian UNIFIL personnel who were on site. The Malaysian soldiers were reportedly hit by flying debris as their UN vehicle passed through the area at the time of the strike.
The Malbatt 850-12 team is the latest Malaysian battalion to join the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon under the UNIFIL mandate. Just one day prior to the incident, the first group of this team departed from the Subang Air Base, heading to Lebanon as part of Malaysia's ongoing peacekeeping contribution under a United Nations agreement.
Defense Minister Khaled Nordin, who spoke yesterday before the incident, had assured the public that the situation appeared relatively stable, with no recent history of airstrikes in the area. He emphasized that the Malbatt 850-11 team, currently stationed in southern Lebanon, remained safe and was not affected by the recent strike. Minister Khaled also noted that the location assigned to Malaysian personnel was elevated and not directly on the Lebanon-Israel border, which he indicated was a relatively safer area for peacekeeping operations.
Malaysia is among 48 countries that contribute troops to UNIFIL, a UN mission established to monitor a ceasefire in southern Lebanon following the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The Malaysian peacekeepers are part of an international coalition tasked with maintaining security, providing humanitarian support, and ensuring stability along the Lebanon-Israel border.
UNIFIL has been on high alert as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah occasionally flares up, putting peacekeepers and local civilians at risk. The Malaysian government has expressed concern over the safety of its soldiers but remains committed to its peacekeeping mission. Defense Minister Khaled reaffirmed Malaysia's dedication to peacekeeping efforts, underscoring the importance of UNIFIL's presence in the region despite recent challenges.
As the Malaysian government awaits further updates on the condition of the wounded personnel, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by peacekeepers operating in volatile regions. The government is closely monitoring the situation and is expected to provide further information on the injured personnel as it becomes available.
Source: FMT
