KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian armed forces will discuss with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) headquarters the need for additional precautions in light of a strike that injured six Malaysian peacekeepers.
Armed forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman said that the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) will engage Unifil on the matter.
"Malbatt will sit down again with Unifil HQ on any extra precautions to be taken, if any with regards to the movement of our troops," he told the New Straits Times.
Mohammad previously told the New Straits Times that flexible and responsive evacuation plans had also been put in place if a withdrawal of Unifil was needed.
Last night, the armed forces in a statement, said that six personnel from Malbatt 850-12 and Malbatt 850-11 sustained minor injuries following a strike by the Israeli Defence Forces near Saida Stadium, Lebanon.
The incident occurred as the Malbatt 850-12 convoy was travelling from Beirut to Marakah Camp. The strike targeted another civilian vehicle en route to Beirut and damaged a bus carrying Malbatt 850-12 personnel.
The armed forces also said it will continue to closely monitor developments regarding the situation and will provide updates on the incident as necessary.
It added that it remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of its personnel in carrying out the peacekeeping mission under the United Nations (UN).
Earlier, Unifil, in a statement, said a convoy ferrying peacekeepers who had just arrived in Lebanon to begin their deployment was hit in an IDF drone strike. Unifil said the injured were treated by the Lebanese Red Cross.
On Wednesday, Malaysia sent its first batch of Malbatt 850-12 peacekeepers, consisting of 220 officers and enlisted personnel, led by Colonel Johan Effendi Mohd Salleh.
Malbatt 850-12 comprises 854 personnel, including 82 officers and 772 enlisted, with an additional three officers and 27 personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and a civilian financial officer from the Defence Ministry.
The deployment followed the return of the Malbatt 850-11 contingent, which completed its tour of duty there.