UNIFIL patrol attacked by unknown assailants

BEIRUT — On Tuesday evening, a  United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol was attacked by unknown persons, damaging a vehicle and stealing its contents  and official documents. Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric condemned the attack, describing it as unacceptable.

Dujarric also called on the Lebanese government to quickly investigate and hold those responsible accountable. Iranian-backed Hezbollah has previously attacked a UNIFIL patrol following the visit of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to Lebanon several months ago.

In related news, Lebanese President Michel Aoun defended Hezbollah in recent comments. ”Nasrallah’s speech could have been calmer.” Aoun said, referring to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s recent speech against Saudi Arabia. 

“Anyone has the right to aspire to the presidency, and if Gebran Bassil aspires to the presidency, he must be qualified for that,” Aoun said.added.

In contrast to Aoun’s defense of Hezbollah, whose support previously secured him the presidency, Head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea said that Nasrallah’s words are nothing but lies and the Iranian axis is responsible for the creation of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and the wider region.

“We will witness the emergence of a new ISIS, as long as the Iranian influence and recklessness persists,” said Geagea, indicating that Saudi Arabia has always helped make Lebanon shine in the East and that it has a very significant political weight in the region.

With regard to the upcoming elections, Geagea stated that he is not a candidate in the classical sense, but rather in the natural sense as he is considered the head of the largest Christian party in Lebanon.

“The most important issue today, and before reaching the presidency, is founding an actual republic,” he concluded, in an indication that he would not accept the presidency before getting rid of Iranian hegemony over Lebanon.