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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
Nahar Net
28-02-2025
- Nahar Net
26 charged over UNIFIL attack, $29,000 were stolen from vehicle
by Naharnet Newsdesk 28 February 2025, 14:37 State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Fadi Akiki has charged 26 suspects with involvement in the February 13 attack on UNIFIL forces on the Beirut airport road. The 26 charged include five detainees, two of whom are only 17 years old. The charges include forming a gang of wrongdoers, attacking UNIFIL vehicles, attempted murder, terrorism and money theft. 'Thirteen people have gone into hiding since the incident and security agencies are trying to apprehend them, after their full identities were determined and their roles in the attack on peacekeepers were verified,' media reports said. 'Three young men intercepted the vehicles, besieged them, hurled rocks at them and beat up the peacekeepers, as a minor hurled Molotov bombs at a vehicle, which went up in flames,' the reports said, citing the investigations. 'Three UNIFIL members were wounded, including the outgoing Nepalese deputy head of mission, as $29,000 that he was carrying were stolen from a bag in the vehicle,' the reports added. The suspects face penalties that can reach life imprisonment with hard labor, especially that they were charged with attempting to murder UNIFIL troops and also harming Lebanese Army soldiers. The attack took place during demos by Hezbollah supporters who were protesting a Lebanese authorities' decision to ban Iranian flights from landing at Beirut's airport.
