Lebanon arrests 25 after attack on UN convoy
BEIRUT:
Lebanese authorities said Saturday that more than 25 people have been arrested following an attack on a United Nations convoy that wounded two peacekeepers, including the force's outgoing deputy commander.
UN and Lebanese officials have condemned Friday's attack, which came as Hezbollah supporters blocked the road to the country's only international airport for a second night over a decision to bar two Iranian flights from landing.
On Saturday, an AFP correspondent said tear gas was fired to disperse a crowd that again blocked the road to the airport after the Iran-backed group called for a sit-in.
Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar told reporters that "more than 25 people have been arrested by Lebanese army intelligence", with another person detained by the security services.
"This does not mean these detainees carried out the attack... but the investigations will show who is responsible," he said, adding that violations would be treated "with all seriousness".
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has demanded a "full and immediate investigation" after one of its vehicles was set on fire in the attack, which wounded outgoing deputy force commander Chok Bahadur Dhakal, who was heading home to Nepal after completing his mission.
UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told AFP a second Nepalese peacekeeper was also wounded.
President Joseph Aoun vowed "the attackers will receive their punishment", and said "security forces will not be lenient with any party that tries to upset stability and civil peace".
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said free speech was vital but "if there is an attempt to block roads and attack public and private property, unfortunately security forces must confront such rioting".
The army said 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".
Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators, some hooded and carrying Hezbollah flags, attacking a man in military uniform and another in civilian clothes near the torched UNIFIL vehicle.
It remains unclear who was responsible for the attack.
Hezbollah's Al-Manar television blamed unidentified "masked men" and said the protesters expressed "their rejection of the attack on the UNIFIL convoy".
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