Lebanon Arrests 25 After Attack on UN Peacekeepers

Lebanese authorities arrested over 25 people after an attack on UN peacekeepers amid Hezbollah-led airport protests. The UN condemned the violence, warning it could be a war crime. Investigations are ongoing.

Lebanese authorities have arrested over 25 individuals following an attack on a United Nations peacekeeping convoy that wounded two Nepalese peacekeepers, including outgoing UNIFIL deputy commander Chok Bahadur Dhakal.

The attack took place on Friday as Hezbollah supporters blocked the road to Beirut’s international airport in protest against a decision barring two Iranian planes from landing. During the unrest, one of UNIFIL's vehicles was torched.

Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar confirmed the arrests but stated that further investigations were required to determine the perpetrators. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun vowed that those responsible would be punished, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incident as a "criminal attack" and assured the UN of swift action.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the attack, warning that targeting peacekeepers could constitute a war crime under international law. UNIFIL has demanded full freedom of movement for its personnel in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has not officially commented, but its Al-Manar television channel claimed unidentified "masked men" were responsible. The Amal movement, a Hezbollah ally, also condemned the attack, calling it an assault on southern Lebanon and civil peace.

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The violence comes amid tensions over Israeli allegations that Hezbollah is using Beirut airport for arms transfers, a claim Hezbollah and Lebanese officials deny. Lebanon’s aviation authority has temporarily rescheduled flights from Iran until February 18, citing additional security measures.