Lebanon: 25 UNIFIL attackers arrested, will be punished

The incident raised serious questions as to whether Lebanese security forces are capable of reigning in Hezbollah.

By World Israel News Staff

Lebanese security forces have arrested 25 people who participated in a recent attack on UN peacekeeping forces, according to an official statement.

Last Friday, Hezbollah activists waving the terror group’s flags attacked a convoy of UNIFIL soldiers near Beirut International Airport.

Footage of the attack circulating on social media showed mobs beating UNIFIL soldiers and setting one of their vehicles on fire.

Two UN soldiers were wounded in the attack, including Nepalese national Chok Bahadur Dhaka, who is the outgoing deputy force commander of UNIFIL.

Dhaka’s injuries were serious enough that he required hospitalization.

“More than 25 people have been arrested by Lebanese army intelligence,” Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar told reporters during a media conference on Saturday.

However, al-Hajjar noted, “this does not mean these detainees carried out the attack… but the investigations will show who is responsible.”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun pledged in a statement posted to his X account that “the attackers will receive their punishment.”

Aoun added that “security forces will not be lenient with any party that tries to upset stability and civil peace.”

The chaos began with a protest by pro-Hezbollah activists, who were demonstrating against a decision by Lebanese authorities to disallow an Iranian plane from landing.

The denial to land occurred after an Israeli warning that Iran was using the airport to smuggle cash to Hezbollah, which would make the transportation hub a potential target for the IDF.

Hezbollah activists raged that Lebanon was caving to Israeli and international pressure, and they blocked roads near the airport as an act of protest.

UNIFIL was called in to deescalate the situation, but instead, came under attack by Hezbollah activists.

The incident raised serious questions as to whether Lebanese security forces are capable of reigning in Hezbollah and its activists.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence in a press statement.

“Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable… The safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times,” Stephane Dujarric, Guterres’s spokesman, said in a media release.

“Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law… and may constitute war crimes,” the statement added. “UNIFIL must be allowed unrestricted freedom of movement throughout Lebanon.”