Miqati Condemns Attack on UNIFIL, Says it Won’t Affect its Role

Prime Minister Najib Miqati condemned on Friday an attack on a UNIFIL patrol in the southern coastal city of Tyre, saying such bombings would not affect the mission of the peacekeepers.

“These crimes don’t only target the international (peacekeeping) forces but also the security and stability of all Lebanon and the south,” Miqati said as he headed a meeting of top security officials at the Grand Serail.

Earlier Friday, five French soldiers and two civilians were wounded by a powerful roadside bomb that targeted the peacekeepers’ patrol on a road that leads to Burj al-Shamali.

He stressed that these attacks will not “affect the work of UNIFIL in the South nor its commitment to the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.”

Miqati demanded a swift investigation into the attack.

The meeting set to discuss the control of Lebanese authorities of the border was held in the presence of Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji, director-general of the General Security Department Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, Secretary General of the Higher Defense Council Maj. Gen. Adnan Merheb, Internal Security forces commander Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and State Security General Director, George Qaraa.