Nepali General Injured in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon Returns Home
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Synopsis
Major General Chok Dhakal, a Nepali general injured in a convoy attack while serving with UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, has returned home after hospital release. This incident occurred during a protest by Hezbollah supporters. Ongoing investigations have led to multiple arrests as UNIFIL emphasizes the need for safety and adherence to international law.
Key Takeaways
- Major General Chok Dhakal injured in convoy attack.
- Returned to Nepal after hospital release.
- Attack occurred amid a Hezbollah protest.
- UNIFIL vehicle set ablaze; investigation ongoing.
- Prioritization of safety for UN personnel emphasized.
United Nations, Feb 18 (NationPress) The Nepali general injured in an attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon has safely returned home following his discharge from the hospital, as reported by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
On Monday, it was announced that Major General Chok Dhakal, who finished his term as the deputy force commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), arrived back in Nepal on Sunday.
Dhakal was concluding his duties when he sustained injuries during an assault on his convoy en route to Beirut airport on Friday.
He was taken to a medical facility alongside a fellow Nepali peacekeeper and was released after receiving treatment.
This attack occurred amidst a rally where supporters of the militant group Hezbollah were protesting against the Lebanese government for denying permission for Iranian aircraft to land at the airport.
According to UNIFIL, one of the vehicles in the convoy was set ablaze.
Although the assailants' identities remain unknown, Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar reported that over 25 individuals have been apprehended in connection with the investigation.
Dujarric stated that UNIFIL has also initiated an inquiry into the incident.
He remarked, “The safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected at all times by everyone. Such attacks are in violation of international law and absolutely unacceptable.”
UNIFIL was established to oversee the peace between Lebanon and Israel and is tasked with aiding Lebanese forces in asserting their authority in Southern Lebanon by eliminating non-state actors.
Nonetheless, Hezbollah continues to function in the region, placing UNIFIL in the midst of the conflict between this Iran-backed group and Israel.
In October, Israeli forces advanced into Southern Lebanon, exceeding UNIFIL positions as part of a campaign against Hezbollah.
