UNIFIL vehicle torched as Hezbollah supporters block airport road anew

Source: Naharnet Newsdesk

A vehicle emblazoned with the logo of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon was torched late Friday as supporters of Hezbollah again blocked the road to Beirut airport.

The charred vehicle lay abandoned by the roadside as Lebanese troops deployed in response to the protest and managed to reopen the road and restore order in the area.

UNIFIL said its outgoing deputy commander was injured in the incident.

“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,” it said.

It said that the deputy commander — Maj. Gen. Chok Bahadur Dhakal from Nepal — had been set to leave the country after completing his mission when the UNIFIL convoy “was violently attacked, and a vehicle was set on fire.”

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