Six UN peacekeepers, among them three Columbians and two Spaniards, have been killed in a blast directed at UN troops in southern Lebanon. Two more were injured. Following the events, Hezbollah denounced the attack and called it a “suspicious act&rd
UN and Lebanese security officials say the blast, on Sunday, was most likely caused by an explosive device, possibly a roadside bomb or a mine. “It's important to determine the exact cause and then we can work out the context and analyse the vehicle, and the type of explosives, and the leftovers and analyse what's left at the place, and then attend to the characteristics to work out what is left. The people who are working there are collecting information and we will pass that on,” Jose Antonio Alonso, Spanish Defence Minister, commented. According to Lebanese officials, it appeared the explosion didn't involve a suicide bomber. Instead, it's believed the explosion was caused by a remotely detonated device. “I think, the credibility of the international community and the credibility of the governments that have troops and the credibility of the Lebanese army and the government of Lebanon, all together, is at stake. The stakes are too high to be allowed to be intimidated by such terrorist actions,” Tarek Metri, Lebanon's acting Foreign Minister, said. This is the first time that UNIFIL has come under attack since it was beefed up last summer after the war between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. An investigation into the attack is underway.