Malaysia instructs peacekeeping forces to enhance security measures

Kuala Lumpur - 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 enhance security measures and vigilance. This was conveyed by Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin in Johor, Malaysia, on Saturday, following an attack that injured at least two Malaysian UNIFIL personnel. As reported by several Malaysian media outlets, Khaled Nordin stated that the two Malaysian peacekeepers were injured by bomb fragments that fell near their location, and not as a result of a direct attack. According to him, all injured Malaysian personnel have received treatment from the medical team on duty and are currently in stable condition. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council is reportedly reassessing the positions of peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, following the scheduled expiration of the UNIFIL mission mandate in December. Khaled stated that the Malaysian government is also planning the repatriation of all Malaysian peacekeeping personnel by the end of this year, should there be no request from the UN to extend the deployment period.