Sarkozy: Whoever Attacks French Troops Will Bear the Consequences
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
French President Nicolas Sarkozy stressed on Friday that his country will maintain its support for Lebanon, noting that French troops have been participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for some 30 years.
He therefore warned that anyone who attacks a single French soldier will have to suffer the consequences of their action.
He added that France will continue on defending Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.
On December 9, 2011, a French UNIFIL patrol was the victim of a roadside bomb in the southern city of Sidon.
Seven people, including five French soldiers, were wounded in the attack.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe stated that Syria was “undoubtedly” behind the assault.
He also accused it of employing its close ally Hizbullah of executing the attack.
UNIFIL patrols have been the target of a string of unclaimed roadside bomb attacks in recent years, including two previously in 2011.
The December blast came amid heightened tension over the bloody uprising in neighboring Syria, with some warning the unrest could spill over into Lebanon.
There have been constant fears that the UNIFIL force stationed in the south of the country would be an easy target should the unrest reach Lebanon.
Spain currently commands the 12,100-strong UNIFIL force, which was founded in 1978 and expanded after a 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah.
France has one of the largest contingents with 1,300 soldiers.
In July, six French UNIFIL troops were wounded, one of them seriously, in the southern coastal town of Sidon, in an attack similar to Friday's. In May, six Italian peacekeepers were wounded in Sidon, also in a roadside bombing.
Three Spanish and three Colombian peacekeepers were killed in June 2007 when a booby-trapped car exploded as their patrol vehicle drove by.
20 January 2012, 18:56
03
That's funny!
"warned that anyone who attacks a single French soldier will have to suffer the consequences of their action."
If you know that Syria and Hezbollah were responsible for the last attack, what happened to suffering the consequences? Or is it just talk???
20 January 2012, 19:45
22
I agree with you Leo. The French are all talk and no action. I am surprised they haven't surrendered to Syria already and handed Assad the keys to Paris. the Syrian regime is about to implode. If Alwaites are smart, they would join hands with the Sunnis, now. Later may be too late.
21 January 2012, 01:03
00
Sarkozy, although i like you as president of France , stay out of this, your troops are way overrated, they suffer in Afghanistan like no other, they are perfect mokery, even for the US . You better start buying American or Russian, your mirages werent any good in Libya. By the way, i agree with @ Leo, if you knew Hezb and Syria were behind this, and you support lebanon and blablabla why didnt your troops reply? do they even have proper equipment or are they still using weapons from world war 2? all western powers know how to do is think people are fools, and Iran make them think that they've got balls. All this is a big comedy, and we are beeing always laughed at by all of them.
21 January 2012, 01:13
00
Paris is no longer the center of democracy and civilization that's why I now winter in Damascus the real center of democracy and summer in Tehran the only center of civilization .
21 January 2012, 08:33
20
Sarkosy
This Lebanese (and christian one) likes to see you leave Lebanon alone. Take your filthy troops with you. Stupid French Imperialist.
21 January 2012, 11:45
01
To all the awesome comments above... the French are under no obligation to take those chances to have their men killed, only to preserve you people from the provocations of Israel or Hezbollah! Instead of being thankful, a primate has the nerve to ask for weapons to help a Hezbollah government...
Shame on you! You don't deserve much!
21 January 2012, 16:08
00
For this only, the French should re-elect the impotent macho.
21 January 2012, 16:20
00
here is the problem, to whom it may concern :) I believe the only reason ISF is better organized & better equiped because Ashraf Rifi doesen't take crap from M8 thugs. He is true Lebanese. unlike our beloved army is lickin Hezziz beyond.
21 January 2012, 16:29
00
thank you Patriot, great comment. with all do respect to the shiite brainwashed sect. when Israel invaded the south you guys greeted them, when US / UK invaded Iraq you guys greeted them. You do not appreciate others help. If UNIFIL was not in Lebanon probably by now south of Lebanon villages were nothing but ghost towns. you think your beloved resistance will be able to resist Israel air power? you don't deserve the help.
