Lebanon Explosion Wounds UNIFIL Peacekeepers

According to French newspaper “Aujourd'hui,” French troops were subjected to a new bomb attack on July 26th in the southern city of Sidon, after the bomb attack on the Italian contingent less than two months ago.

“Five UNIFIL peacekeepers were enjured in the explosion, three of the injured were transported to the hospital for treatment,” said UNIFIL spokesperson Neeraj Singh.

The newspaper revealed that the French contingent in the UNIFIL has changed its monitoring mission on Litani River, in March to become a circumspection unit that can intervene in the entire south.

Reports by the newspaper indicate that due to the crisis that Lebanon is currently experiencing, the main role of France in Lebanese issues bothers Hezbollah - Syria’s ally - for two reasons. The first reason is that France has publicly denounced the repression exercised by the Assad regime against Syrian protesters.

The second reason is that Paris supports the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which has accused members of Hezbollah of involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his companions.

Speakers: Neeraj Singh - UNIFIL spokesperson