Scenes of a UNIFIL jeep being burned on the Beirut Airport Road, in the vicinity of Cocody, have spread across social media, as the road continues to be blocked in the area.
احراق سيارة تابعة لليونيفيل على طريق المطار#لبنان #مطار_بيروت pic.twitter.com/IhGsmLPZBp
— Ahmad Hamieh(@Ahmadhamieh313) February 14, 2025
The outgoing deputy commander of UNIFIL was injured Friday, the international peacekeeping force said, after a convoy taking troops to the Beirut airport was attacked amid pro-Hezbollah demonstrations in the area.
Supporters of the Hezbollah militant group have blocked the road to the country’s only airport for two consecutive nights over a decision barring two Iranian planes from landing in the Lebanese capital. The decision came after the Israel Defense Forces said Iran was smuggling cash to Hezbollah via civilian flights.
According to Al-Arabiya, the three-car UNIFIL convoy was assaulted by young men who beat officers, stole equipment and burned at least one vehicle.
In a statement, UNIFIL demanded a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“We are shocked by this outrageous attack on peacekeepers who have been serving to restore security and stability to south Lebanon during a difficult time,” said the UN peacekeeping force. “Attacks on peacekeepers are flagrant violations of international law and may amount to war crime.”
“Peacekeepers continue to work to restore security and stability in south Lebanon in accordance with our mandate under Security Council Resolution 1701,” the statement added, referring to the UN decision ending the 2006 Second Lebanon War that requires Hezbollah to pull its fighters north of the Litani River.
UNIFIL Maj. Gen. Chok Bahadur Dhakal, of Nepal, who was set to leave the country after completing his mission when the convoy was attacked and injured
The statement did not name the injured deputy commander, a post held since 2022 by Maj. Gen. Chok Bahadur Dhakal, of Nepal, who was set to leave the country after completing his mission when the convoy was attacked.