Top commander with UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon is injured by protesters

Policemen inspect the burnt remains of a UNIFIL vehicle, set ablaze by protesters, on the road leading to Beirut鈥檚 international airport on Feb. 14, 2025. (AFP)
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  • 鈥淲e are shocked by this outrageous attack on peacekeepers who have been serving to restore security and stability to south Lebanon during a difficult time,鈥� it said
  • The Lebanese army intervened to disperse the protesters

BEIRUT: The outgoing deputy commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon was injured Friday when protesters attacked a convoy taking peacekeepers to the Beirut airport, the force known as UNIFIL said in a statement.
鈥淲e are shocked by this outrageous attack on peacekeepers who have been serving to restore security and stability to south Lebanon during a difficult time,鈥� it said.
The Lebanese army intervened to disperse the protesters. The army said in a statement that acting commander Maj. Gen. Hassan Odeh had contacted UNIFIL and promised to 鈥渨ork to arrest the citizens who attacked its members and bring them to justice.鈥�
Demonstrators have been blocking the road to the airport and other roads in the capital to protest a decision by Lebanese authorities to revoke permission for a passenger plane from Iran to fly to Beirut on Thursday, leaving dozens of Lebanese passengers stranded.
The decision to ban the Iranian plane came after the Israeli army issued a statement claiming that Iran was smuggling cash to the militant group Hezbollah via civilian flights.
Lebanon鈥檚 civil aviation agency said Thursday that 鈥渁dditional security measures鈥� meant some flights were temporarily rescheduled until Feb. 18 鈥� the same day as a deadline for Israel and Hezbollah to fully implement their ceasefire agreement, including a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.