UN peacekeeper injured as convoy attacked by Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon

The outgoing deputy force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was injured on February 14 when a convoy transporting peacekeepers to Beirut airport was attacked by Hezbollah supporters.

UNIFIL confirmed that Major General Chok Bahadur Dhakal of Nepal, who was due to depart after completing his mission, was caught in the assault, during which the convoy was violently attacked, and a vehicle was set on fire, Caliber.Az reports via Arab media.

The mission has called for a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

The attack followed a dispute between Iran and Lebanon over flight restrictions. Lebanon had blocked an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing in Beirut after Israel accused Tehran of using civilian flights to smuggle cash for Hezbollah.

In retaliation, Iran barred Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Iran, prompting protests by Hezbollah supporters, who blocked roads near Beirut airport from February 13 to 14.

Lebanon’s civil aviation agency stated that security measures had led to temporary flight rescheduling until February 18—the deadline for Israel and Hezbollah to implement a ceasefire agreement that ended their recent conflict in November, including a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack on UNIFIL, warning that security forces would not tolerate any attempt to destabilize the country. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Lebanese Army also denounced the assault and pledged urgent action to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar called an emergency meeting on February 15 to address the security situation and instructed authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

The Amal Movement, allied with Hezbollah, described the attack as an offence against southern Lebanon and urged security forces to pursue the assailants. The United States also condemned the incident.

Meanwhile, Lebanon attempted to resolve the aviation stand-off by dispatching two Middle East Airlines planes on February 14 to retrieve stranded Lebanese citizens from Iran. However, Iran refused to allow the aircraft to land, insisting that its own flights must first be granted access to Beirut.

By Aghakazim Guliyev