It has been labeled as a “terrorist” attack. Hizballah is benefiting nicely from the status quo in Lebanon in its relationship with the U.N. and the Lebanese Army, and though it is the only group named in the report below, it would profit the least from rocking the boat in this way. “Attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon condemned,” from BBC News, July 27:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned a roadside bomb attack that wounded five French peacekeepers in Sidon, southern Lebanon, on Tuesday.
It was the second such attack on the UN force in two months.
Mr Ban said he was “deeply disturbed”.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack but tensions are rising in Lebanon over a UN-backed inquiry into the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
A statement from the UN force in Lebanon (Unifil) said that an explosion targeted a peacekeepers’ convoy along the main road leading to the capital at about 18:00 local time.
“Unifil forensic experts are at the scene and Unifil is working in co-ordination with the Lebanese armed forces to determine the circumstances of the incident,” it said.
The UN Security Council added its condemnation of the bombing, which it called “a terrorist attack”, as well as any attempts to threaten the security and stability of Lebanon. […]
There are growing concerns over fallout from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which the UN supports. It has indicted members of Hezbollah, but the group refuses to hand over the suspects.
Interpol has issued a “red notice” for their arrest, but not surprisingly, there has not been the political will in a Hizballah-dominated government to do anything about it.
The tribunal is expected to publish more details of the indictments when a 30-day deadline expires at the end of the month.