BEIRUT — On Friday, an assault by protesters on a convoy transporting peacekeepers to the airport in Beirut resulted in injuries to the second-in-command of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, according to a recent statement from UNIFIL.
The organization expressed its astonishment at the “outrageous” attack, highlighting the role of peacekeepers in restoring security and stability in southern Lebanon during such turbulent times. The deputy commander, Major General Chok Bahadur Dhakal from Nepal, was preparing to leave the country after completing his mission when the convoy was violently assaulted, leading to one vehicle being set ablaze.
In response to the situation, the Lebanese army moved in to clear the area of protesters. The army’s acting commander, Major General Hassan Odeh, reached out to UNIFIL, assuring them that efforts would be made to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for the assault, bringing them to justice.
The protests were sparked by the Lebanese government’s decision to revoke flight permissions for an Iranian passenger plane destined for Beirut on Thursday, which left many Lebanese travelers stranded. This decision came in the wake of a declaration from the Israeli military, alleging that Iran was using civilian flights to funnel money to Hezbollah, prompting some Lebanese citizens to accuse their government of capitulating to Israeli threats.
Lebanon’s civil aviation authority announced that “additional security measures” had resulted in the temporary rescheduling of several flights until February 18—a date that coincides with a deadline for Israel and Hezbollah to fully adhere to a ceasefire agreement established following their most recent conflict that ended in late November.
Earlier, a U.S. representative on the monitoring committee overseeing the ceasefire indicated that “significant progress” had been made as the deadline approached. Nevertheless, Major General Jasper Jeffers’s comments brought some uncertainty about whether Israeli forces would withdraw completely from southern Lebanon by the February 18 deadline, stating that he was confident only that all population centers in the Southern Litani Area would revert to Lebanese control by that date.
As Israeli troops withdraw from specific areas, it will be the responsibility of both the Lebanese army and UNIFIL to ensure that Hezbollah does not re-establish a military presence. While the initial withdrawal deadline was set for late January, negotiations led to an extension, with Lebanese officials making it clear they do not plan to extend it further. They strongly oppose Israeli proposals that would allow for their military presence at five border points, in exchange for leaving other areas.
In a relevant development, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France had suggested enhancing the UNIFIL presence, possibly with French forces, to replace Israeli troops at those contested five border positions. The monitoring committee includes representatives from France, Lebanon, Israel, and UNIFIL.
UNIFIL’s establishment aimed to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces following its 1978 invasion. The mission was expanded after the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to patrol the Israeli-Lebanese border and aid the Lebanese military in asserting its authority in the southern region for the first time in decades.
Supporters of Hezbollah often claim that the U.N. mission collaborates with Israel, while Israel accuses UNIFIL of overlooking Hezbollah’s military activities in the southern regions of Lebanon.
In a previously reported incident from December 2022, an Irish peacekeeper lost his life when a mob attacked a UNIFIL convoy that had entered a southern Lebanese village outside its designated patrol area. During the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, UNIFIL also raised concerns about Israeli military strikes targeting its troops and facilities on several occasions, asserting that some of these attacks were “clearly deliberate.”
Following the assault on Friday, Hezbollah and its allies seemed to be attempting to distance themselves from the events. Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV described the assailants as “unruly elements” creating chaos with questionable motives near the airport road. Meanwhile, the Amal Movement—a political faction led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah—issued a statement condemning the attack on UNIFIL, labeling it as an attack on southern Lebanon overall, and urged the military and security forces to pursue those accountable.
