Army seeks to arrest violators as Foreign Ministry slams attack on UNIFIL

The Lebanese Army sent reinforcements Tuesday to the southern town of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr to pursue a number of suspects accused of attacking a UNIFIL patrol in the town earlier in the day, the state-run National News Agency said.

It added that an altercation erupted between army troops and some residents of the town during the raid. Al-Jadeed said some residents were wounded in the clashes with the army.

In an earlier clash in the same area on Tuesday, a Lebanese resident slapped a UNIFIL peacekeeper during a clash with a UNIFIL patrol.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry meanwhile condemned “the attack on a UNIFIL member,” stressing “the need not to jeopardize the safety and security of UNIFIL’s troops and vehicles” and demanding “accountability against those behind the attack that violated Lebanese and international laws.”

The Ministry also emphasized “Lebanon’s keenness on the role of these forces and on supporting their work, mandate and missions in line with Security Council Resolution 1701 in order to help preserve peace and security in south Lebanon.”