Latest news with #ChokBahadurDhakal
Ya Libnan
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Dozens of Hezbollah supporters charged over UNIFIL attack and for stealing $29,000
Deputy UNIFIL Force Commander was injured after Hezbollah supporters attacked a convoy of UNIFIL vehicles, in protest against Lebanon's refusal to allow a flight from Iran to land in Beirut. Lebanon's military court has reportedly charged 26 men with attacking members of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) in February during a protest south of Beirut by Hezbollah supporters. Judge Fadi Akiki, State Commissioner to the Military Court, which oversees cases related to terror and espionage, charged them with forming a criminal gang, attacking vehicles belonging to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), attempted murder, terrorism, and stealing $29,000, according to local media. Only seven of the suspects are currently detained while the rest are still being pursued. On the night of 14 February, Hezbollah supporters blocked a road leading to Beirut Airport, protesting against the Lebanese government's decision to ban flights from Iran, after Israel claimed Tehran was smuggling cash for Hezbollah on commercial flights and threatened to bomb Beirut airport if they were allowed to land there. Outgoing deputy commander Major General Chok Bahadur Dhakal, who was heading home after completing his work with UNIFIL, was injured in the attack, while two other Nepalese personnel were also assaulted and managed to escape the attackers. Their vehicle was then set ablaze. The 'criminal attack' was condemned by UNIFIL and the Lebanese government, which vowed to punish the perpetrators. At least 30 suspects were arrested hours after the attack during raids carried out by the Lebanese security forces in the southern suburbs of Beirut, but some were released after being found to have no connection. One individual is said to have thrown a petrol bomb at the UN vehicle, setting it ablaze. The suspects face penalties that can reach life imprisonment with hard labor, especially since they were charged with attempting to murder UNIFIL troops and also harming Lebanese Army soldiers. The indefinite ban on flights from Iran has angered Hezbollah supporters, especially after a group of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims were stranded in Tehran for days after an Iranian Mahan Air flight was banned from traveling to Beirut. Lebanon's MEA offered to fly the pilgrims back to Beirut, but in a tit-for-tat move the Iranian authorities refused the offer. The 'criminal attack' was slammed by UNIFIL and the Lebanese government, which vowed to punish the perpetrators. New Arab
Ya Libnan
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
More than 25 people arrested in Lebanon after attack on UN convoy
UNIFIL Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. Chok Bahadur Dhakal, of Nepal, who was set to leave the country after completing his mission was injured when the UNIFIL convoy was attacked by Hezbollah supporters on Friday , 2 Nepalese soldiers were also injured in the attack and all of them are being hospitalized in Beirut More than 25 people have been arrested in Lebanon after a convoy carrying United Nations peacekeepers came under attack on Friday. The force's outgoing deputy commander and a Nepalese soldier were both wounded after the vehicle they were travelling in was set on fire. Beirut- Lebanese authorities said Saturday that more than 25 people had been arrested following an attack on a United Nations convoy the day before 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 for a second night blocked the road to the country's only international airport over a decision barring two Iranian planes from landing there. 'More than 25 people have been arrested by Lebanese army intelligence', with another person detained by the security services, Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar told reporters after an emergency security meeting Saturday. 'This does not mean these detainees carried out the attack… but the investigations will show who is responsible,' he said. The army and security agencies would bolster measures to 'maintain security and stability', Hajjar added, and violations would be treated 'with all seriousness'. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has demanded an investigation after one of its vehicles was set on fire during the incident, which wounded outgoing deputy force commander Chok Bahadur Dhakal, a Nepalese national who was heading home after ending his mission. UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told AFP a second Nepalese peacekeeper was also wounded and hospitalised. 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', according to a statement from the presidency on X. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam strongly condemned the 'criminal attack' and promised to arrest the perpetrators during a conversation with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL Commander General Aroldo Lazaro. In a meeting with Hajjar on Saturday, Salam emphasised the importance of maintaining security across the country, a statement from his office said. The premier was set to meet other 'relevant ministers' later in the day. The presidency's statement said Aoun had stressed that the incident 'cannot be allowed to be repeated', adding that the judiciary 'has begun investigations on the ground'. The army said Friday 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'. Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators, some hooded and carrying Hezbollah flags, attacking a man in military garb and another in civilian clothes near the torched UNIFIL vehicle. It remains unclear who was responsible for the attack. There was no immediate official comment from Hezbollah, but its television channel Al-Manar late Friday blamed unidentified 'masked men'. It said the protesters expressed 'their rejection of the attack on the UNIFIL convoy', adding their goal was 'to secure the return of citizens stuck in Iran'. The group's ally the Amal movement, led by powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri, said 'the attack on UNIFIL is an attack on south Lebanon' and that 'blocking roads anywhere is an assault on civil peace'. Several countries have condemned the incident, as did UN chief Antonio Guterres. 'Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable… The safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times,' his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement. 'Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law… and may constitute war crimes,' the statement said, adding that 'UNIFIL must be allowed unrestricted freedom of movement throughout Lebanon'. Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of using Beirut airport to transfer weapons from Iran, claims Hezbollah has denied. Iran-backed Hezbollah has a large popular base in Lebanon, though a year of hostilities with Israel and the ousting of its ally Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria have left the group weakened. Lebanon's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said Thursday it had 'temporarily rescheduled' some flights, including from Iran, until February 18 as it was implementing 'additional security measures'. The date coincides with the deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon and for Hezbollah to vacate positions there, under a ceasefire deal that began on November 27. (AFP) / FRANCE24
Express Tribune
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
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".
Voice of America
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Lebanon says 25 arrested after attack on UN peacekeepers
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. U.N. 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 by Lebanon 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 U.N. 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. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack. 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." It remains unclear who was responsible for the attack. Senior Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa said "what happened with UNIFIL ... is unacceptable." "Hezbollah has nothing to do with this matter," he told Beirut-based pro-Iran broadcaster Al-Mayadeen. Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny said that the government was trying to bring home citizens stranded in Iran on Lebanese flag carrier Middle East Airlines, but Tehran had not provided the necessary permissions. Iran said it was ready for "constructive talks" with Lebanon on restoring flights, during a telephone call between the two countries' foreign ministers, an Iranian foreign ministry statement said. Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of using Beirut airport to transfer weapons from Iran, claims Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have denied. Lebanon's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said Thursday it had "temporarily rescheduled" some flights, including from Iran, until February 18. The date coincides with the deadline for Israel to complete its withdrawal from south Lebanon and for Hezbollah to vacate its military positions in the region under a ceasefire deal that began in November and was later extended. On Saturday, the Israeli military carried out an airstrike on south Lebanon that it said targeted a senior militant from Hezbollah's aerial unit. "The terrorist was targeted after repeatedly violating the understandings between Israel and Lebanon over the past few weeks, including his role in leading the launch of UAVs (drones) towards Israeli territory," the military said. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said two people were killed and four wounded in the strike on a vehicle in the Iqlim al-Tuffah area. Both sides have accused each other of repeated ceasefire violations since the truce went into effect late last year.
Middle East Eye
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Lebanese authorities arrest 25 after attack on UN peacekeepers
Lebanese authorities arrested more than 25 people on Saturday following an attack on a United Nations convoy that wounded two peacekeepers the day before, the interior minister said in a statement. 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 in protest against a decision barring two Iranian planes from landing. "More than 25 people have been arrested by Lebanese army intelligence", with another person detained by the security services, Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar told reporters after an emergency security meeting Saturday. "This does not mean these detainees carried out the attack... but the investigations will show who is responsible," he said. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) has demanded a "full and immediate investigation" after one of its vehicles was set on fire in the attack, which wounded outgoing Deputy Commander Chok Bahadur Dhakal and a second Nepalese peacekeeper. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters President Joseph Aoun vowed "the attackers will receive their punishment" and said that "security forces will not be lenient with any party that tries to upset stability and civil peace". Tensions have been high this week since Lebanon halted Iranian flights to Beirut after the Israeli military accused Tehran of using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm Hezbollah. The decision sparked protests in the Lebanese capital since late Thursday, with a crowd of Hezbollah supporters blocking the airport road and burning tyres. Tehran has described Israel's accusations as a pretext for potential attacks, while Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have denied that the airport is being used to arm the group. Iran said on Saturday that it was ready for "constructive talks" with Lebanon on resuming Tehran-Beirut flights, a day after it barred Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of nationals stranded in Iran. On Friday, several areas around the airport saw demonstrations, acts of vandalism and clashes between protesters and security forces, according to the Lebanese army. Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday calling on its supporters to join a mass sit-in near the airport to protest "Israeli interference, diktats and the violation of national sovereignty". Lebanese security forces cracked down on the demonstration, firing tear gas and dispersing the crowd in the early evening.
