4 UN peacekeepers killed in Lebanon

[Craghopper]

4 Spanish United Nations peace keepers have been killed and 6 injured in an explosion in southern Lebanon.

An explosion hit at least one armored patrol vehicle which was transporting the peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.


Police sources say a suicide car bomber was most likely to have caused the deaths of the peace keepers.


They said a mangled car was found at the scene with human remains inside.

Security sources earlier said the blast was caused by a roadside bomb.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0624/lebanon.html

[mugs]

4 Spanish Soldiers killed in Lebanon

Lebanon 'bomb' kills UN soldiers

A roadside bomb went off as the peacekeepers drove by
At least five soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (Unifil) have been killed by an explosion in the south of the country.
Spain's defence ministry has confirmed four of its soldiers were killed - the first Spanish casualties in Lebanon.

The remote-controlled blast occurred near Khiyam close to the Israeli border, Lebanese sources said.

No-one has claimed to have carried out the attack. Radical groups in Lebanon have threatened to attack peacekeepers.

For the last five weeks, the Lebanese army has been battling militants from the Fatah al-Islam group.

Authorities have said that Fatah al-Islam militants who have been arrested and interrogated have confessed there was a plan to attack the UN, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut.

The militants are said to be inspired by al-Qaeda.

Multinational force

Sunday's explosion took place took place between the towns of Khiyam and Marjeyoun, near the border with Israel in the area of operation of UN peacekeepers.



A convoy of armoured UN vehicles from a Spanish battalion was hit by the blast.

At least three peacekeepers were also injured in the blast.

It was initially unclear if the soldiers were targeted or hit unexploded ordinance left over from last summer's war between Israel and Lebanon's Shia guerrilla movement Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has issued a statement condemning the attack.

"This act of aggression is aimed at increasing insecurity in Lebanon, especially in the south of the country," it said.

The Unifil peacekeeping force, which has been deployed in Lebanon since 1978, was beefed up last summer after the end of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

There are now around 13,000 UN peacekeepers deployed in the area, including French, Spanish and Indian soldiers

I couldn't help noticing the Irish DPM. So are things hotting up?

[Mick O'Toole]

It was 1.5 km from Khiam. Members of the DF were first on the scene. You can see at least one of them in Irisharmy_01's photo, above. The Irish base is 5km from the bomb.

[Mick O'Toole]

This link has more photos:

http://www.elmundo.es/albumes/2007/0...ano/index.html

[Goldie fish]

Pegaso BMR 600?

This is an interesting escalation in the situation.

[techman1]

Pegaso BMR 600?

forgive my ignorance, but what does that refer too, thanks.

always hurts me to see blue helmets been targeted this way,
may their God protect them.

[BANDIT]

The days when the UN were considered as somehow neutral are to a large extent over especially in relation to the current Islamic terror type attacks. Yes I know probebly more Irish were killed in Leb by IDF and their minions. The bombing in Iraq on the UN and the fact that the UN is now associated with the War on terror means that UN especially European armies are considered as targets,Sahme about the 6 dead RIP

[thebig C]

Pegaso BMR 600?

forgive my ignorance, but what does that refer too, thanks.

......

The APC the Spanish and Colombians were travelling in.

[Exo1]

Yes, things are changing for sure... my respects to those brave souls... Lebannon will hot up especially after Fatah Al Islam getting a bloody nose by the Leb Army....

[hedgehog]

Congratulations to two members of our Defence Forces who tonight were presented Spanish Military Cross by the Spanish Ambassador in relation to their brave actions after this murderous attack.

[morpheus]

Not a peep in the media about it yet?

[HavocIRL]

Congratulations to two members of our Defence Forces who tonight were presented Spanish Military Cross by the Spanish Ambassador in relation to their brave actions after this murderous attack.

Funny story. One of the guys who got it was told by a SNCO he wouldn't be allowed to wear it because it belonged to a foreign military.

Same SNCO proudly wears Dutch para wings.

[X-RayOne]

the irony!

can they not wear legitimate foreign awards on right chest??

i'm nearly sure we have one or two peeps who have appeared in an cosantoir, etc. with similar??

[gibedepusib0ss]

Funny story. One of the guys who got it was told by a SNCO he wouldn't be allowed to wear it because it belonged to a foreign military.

Same SNCO proudly wears Dutch para wings.

Does he have his Irish wings? If not.... Well...

[DeV]

Not a peep in the media about it yet?

There are pics of the incident on facebook