KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were attacked by a mob of supporters of Hezbollah protesting against the government on Friday night. In the attack UNIFIL’s outgoing Deputy Force Commander, Major General Chok Bahadur Dhakal who was returning to Nepal after ending his mission, was injured.
According to a statement issued by the UNIFIL, a convoy taking peacekeepers to Beirut airport was violently attacked, and a vehicle was set on fire. Major General Dhakal was injured when a mob stopped and vandalized the convoy carrying him near the capital Beirut at around 12 o'clock on Friday night.
He was rescued immediately and taken to Beirut for treatment, and the hospital stated that he was out of danger, according to the Military Public Relations Directorate.
Major General Dhakal was deployed in UNIFIL as the Deputy Force Commander on December 2, 2022. Having more than 35 years of illustrious military career in the Nepali Army, Dhakal has held various command appointments ranging from a Company Commander to Battalion and Brigade Commander and the Commandant of Peacekeeping Operations Training School. Prior to his deployment in UNIFIL as the DFC, he was Military Assistant to Chief of the Army Staff, Nepali Army.
Nepali peacekeepers attacked in Lebanon: Major General Dhakal i...
Lebanese Prez vows punishment for attackers
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun vowed on Saturday to punish the perpetrators of an attack on a United Nations peacekeeping convoy a day earlier that wounded the force's outgoing deputy commander. Major General of the Nepali Army Chok Bahadur Dhakal was among the peacekeepers injured in the attack.
Aoun "condemned the attack... and emphasised that the attackers will receive their punishment", a statement from the presidency said on X.
"Security forces will not be lenient with any party that tries to upset stability and civil peace," it added.
Hezbollah supporters blocked the road to the country's only international airport for two consecutive nights over a decision barring two Iranian planes from landing in Beirut, with the army reporting unruly protests in the area Friday.
UNIFIL reacts
UNIFIL has expressed shock at the attack on peacekeepers who have been serving to restore security and stability to south Lebanon during a difficult time.
Condemning the incident, UNIFIL has said in the statement that “attacks on peacekeepers are flagrant violations of international law and may amount to war crimes” and that the force “demands a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice.”
Peacekeepers continue to work to restore security and stability in south Lebanon in accordance with our mandate under Security Council resolution 1701.
