The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has recently been the subject of much criticism, and now the first country is withdrawing from the mission: Argentina has informed the United Nations of the imminent withdrawal of its contingent.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenent confirmed to Reuters: “Argentina has asked its officers to return.” Argentina is one of a total of 48 countries that are currently part of the UNIFIL mission. The contingent currently consists of three officers.
Austria currently has a significantly larger contingent of 165 soldiers in total. The next 81 soldiers were officially discharged on Monday at the Wallenstein barracks in Götzendorf. They will replace other soldiers on site. In an interview with Militär Aktuell, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner explainedwhy the Armed Forces is still committed to the mission.
The 10,000-strong UNIFIL peacekeeping mission is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor the demarcation line with Israel. Fighting between Israeli troops and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters has been ongoing in this area for over a year.
Here for more news about the Argentine armed forces.
