KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The recent attack on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) patrol has not affected the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-12, which is currently serving under the peacekeeping mission.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said all Malaysian personnel are safe and their operations are continuing as usual.
“There is nothing that has affected Malbatt, and they are currently preparing for the troop rotation process,” he told Bernama when contacted today.
Malbatt 850-12 is scheduled to return home in stages beginning next month and will be replaced by Malbatt 850-13, which includes a platoon from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
In a statement yesterday, Unifil said that one of its patrols came under attack involving grenades launched by drones and tank fire from Israeli forces near Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli drone was seen flying over the patrol area, prompting peacekeepers to take defensive measures to neutralise the threat. No injuries or damage were reported in the incident.
The force has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978 and was significantly reinforced following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
