SHAH ALAM: Six Malaysian peacekeepers – five newly arrived personnel from Malbatt 850-12 – were injured in an explosion Lebanon. The sixth peacekeeper was from Malbat 850-11 suffered a fracture in the left arm and was later taken to a hospital for treatment.

The Defence Ministry in a statement, described the injuries suffered by the other five as minor. It said the explosion occurred when a civilian vehicle headed towards Beirut was hit and it caused damage to a bus carrying the Unifil peacekeepers, injuring six of them. The bus were carrying the peacekeepers from Beirut to the Marakah camp the headquarters of the Malbatt. The Straits Times carried pictures of the injured peacekeepers.

The UN said Israel launched a barrage of air strikes on Beirut on November 7, killing three civilian, after Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it carried out a missile attack targeting a military base near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Nov 6.

The Malaysian Armed Forces “will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates regarding the incident as they become available,” the statement said adding it “remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its personnel while carrying out peacekeeping missions under the United Nations banner,” it added.

Two hundred and twenty Malbatt 850-12 arrived in Lebanon on November 6 after they left Subang early in the evening, Malaysian time.

Meanwhile, a low loader carrying two Adnan ACV from 7 Renjer DiRaja was damaged after it skidded off the road on the Karak highway on November 7. No injuries were reported among the low loader crew.

— Malaysian Defence