Two Malaysian UNIFIL Peacekeepers Injured in Attack in Lebanon

Two Malaysian peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were lightly wounded in an attack in southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. “This morning, an attack struck near a UNIFIL logistics convoy in the village of Haris… Two of our Malaysian peacekeeping colleagues were injured, fortunately only lightly, and two of their vehicles were damaged,” Dujarric told reporters. The convoy was able to return to a nearby base, where the peacekeepers received medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. UNIFIL will investigate the nature of the incident, Dujarric added. The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions, following Hezbollah’s initiation of rocket and drone attacks against Israel on 2 March, set against the backdrop of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. In response, Israel conducted extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as in southern and eastern Lebanon, and launched ground operations in the south. A US-mediated ceasefire was reached on 16 April, though Israel has continued daily strikes on dozens of settlements in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah responding by targeting Israeli forces.