Malaysia instructs peacekeeping forces to enhance security measures

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has instructed members of the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to heighten security measures and vigilance.

This directive was issued by Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin in Johor, Malaysia, on Saturday, following an attack that resulted in injuries to at least two Malaysian personnel in UNIFIL.

As reported by several Malaysian media outlets, Khaled Nordin stated that two members of the Malaysian peacekeeping force were injured by bomb fragments that landed near the personnel’s location, rather than by a direct attack.

According to him, all injured Malaysian personnel have received treatment from the medical teams on duty and are currently in stable condition.

The United Nations Security Council is reportedly evaluating the position of peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, following the scheduled end of the UNIFIL mission mandate in December.

Khaled conveyed that the Malaysian government is also planning the repatriation of all Malaysian peacekeeping members at the end of this year, provided there is no request from the UN to extend the peacekeeping mission’s deployment period.