Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday (October 14, 2024) said there would be "no withdrawal" of the UN peacekeeping force from southern Lebanon after Israeli attacks and calls to leave. Israel's offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia has thrust the UNIFIL force deployed in Lebanon since 1978 into the spotlight. The force, which involves about 9,500 troops from some 50 nations led by a Spanish general, has in recent days reported multiple Israeli attacks that injured five of its troops and sparked international condemnation. Spain condemns Netanyahu's call for the force to pull back and "there will be no withdrawal of UNIFIL", Sanchez told a forum in Barcelona. That commitment "makes more sense today than ever after seeing what is happening on the ground", Mr. Sanchez said.

Source: The Hindu October 14, 2024 19:39 UTC