The Lebanese authorities said on Saturday that more than 25 people have been arrested after an attack against a United Nations convoy that wounded two peace forces, including the outgoing deputy commander of the force.
The UN officials and the Lebanese condemned Friday’s attack, which occurred when Hezbollah supporters blocked the road to the only international airport in the country for a second night for the decision to ban two Iranian flights from landing.
On Saturday, a AFP The correspondent said that the tear gas was triggered to disperse a crowd that again blocked the road to the airport after the group backed by Iran asked for a sitting.
Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar told journalists that “more than 25 people have been arrested for the intelligence of the Lebanese army,” with another person detained for security services.
“This does not mean that these detainees carried out the attack … but the investigations will show who is responsible,” he said, adding that the violations would be treated “with all seriousness.”
The UN interim force in Lebanon has demanded a “complete and immediate investigation” after one of its vehicles was burned in the attack, which wounded the attached commander of the outgoing force Chok Bhadur Dhakal, which was heading to Nepal later to complete your mission.
Unifil Vice President Kandice Arrange AFP That a second Nepalese pacifier was also injured.
President Joseph Aoun promised “the attackers will receive their punishment” and said that “security forces will not be indulgent with any part that tries to alter stability and civil peace.”
‘Civil Peace’
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that freedom of expression was vital, but “if there is an attempt to block roads and attack public and private property, unfortunately, security forces must face such disturbances.”
The Army said that several areas around the airport had seen “demonstrations marked by acts of vandalism and clashes, including assaults on members of the Armed Forces and attacks against vehicles.”
The videos that circulate on social networks showed protesters, some hooded and wearing hezbollah flags, attacking a man with military uniform and another with civil clothing near the unifile torch vehicle.
It is not clear who was responsible for the attack.
Hezbollah Al-Manar Television blamed the “masked men” unidentified and said that the protesters expressed “their rejection of the attack on the unifile convoy.” The amal group ally said: “The attack on Unifil is an attack to the south of Lebanon” and that “blocking roads anywhere is an assault on civil peace.”
The Minister of Transportation, Fayez Rasamny, said that the Government was trying to bring Casa citizens stranded in Iran in the airlines of the Lebanese flag of the Middle East, but that Tehran had not provided the necessary “permits”.
Prime Minister Salam said Beirut would pay for the Labanés stranded to return through other routes if necessary.
Iran said he was ready for “constructive conversations” with Lebanon in flight restoration, during a phone call among the foreign ministers of the two countries, a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of using Beirut airport to transfer weapons from Iran, says Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have denied.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Lebanon said Thursday that it had “temporarily reprogrammed” some flights, even from Iran, until February 18, since it implemented “additional security measures.”
‘Absolutely unacceptable’
The date coincides with the deadline for Israel to complete its withdrawal from the south of Lebanon and for Hezbollah to leave his military positions in the region under a high fire agreement that began in November and then extended.
On Saturday, Lebanese state media said an Israeli drone hit the south of the country. They did not report any victim. The two parties have repeatedly changed accusations of rape of high fire since the truce entered into force at the end of last year.
Hezbollah has a great popular base in Lebanon, although a year of hostilities with Israel and the expulsion of his Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad have left him weakened.
Several countries, including France and Qatar, have condemned Friday’s attack against the peace forces, as are the UN Chief, Antonio Guterres.
“Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable … the security of the UN staff and property must be respected at all times,” said Stephane Dujarric spokesman. “The attacks against the peace forces are violating international law … and can constitute war crimes,” he added.
