Hezbollah has condemned an attack on a United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) convoy in Beirut on Friday, which the U.S. State Department has said was reportedly carried out by supporters of the militant group. The convoy, transporting peacekeepers to Beirut airport, was “violently attacked,” resulting in injuries to UNIFIL’s outgoing deputy force commander.
Lebanese authorities have detained more than 25 individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into the attack. In a statement on Sunday, Hezbollah expressed firm rejection of any targeting of UNIFIL forces.
Separately, Hezbollah denounced the Lebanese army for firing tear gas at protesters on Saturday. The protesters were demonstrating against Lebanon’s decision to block an Iranian flight to Beirut, following accusations by the Israeli military that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to arm Hezbollah.
Hezbollah called on the Lebanese military to investigate what it described as an “unjustified assault on peaceful civilians.” The incident has led to a standoff between Iran and Lebanon, with Iran barring Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Iran, citing an Israeli threat to attack the aircraft.