KUALA LUMPUR – A video showing a Malaysian military convoy in Lebanon getting attacked with sharp weapons and rocks by a local mob on September 18 made rounds on social media, as Israel continues its brutal bombing campaign against Hezbollah militants there.
So far, over 2,000 civilians have died as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon prompting Malaysian military personnel stationed south of the country to pause ongoing operations and perform bunker drills.
Currently, Malaysia has 824 military personnel with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), putting itself as the sixth largest contributor to the peacekeeping mission there.
Since hostilities began between Israel and Hezbollah in October last year, soldiers from the Zionist regime have encroached into Lebanon, putting the spotlight on peacekeeping troops in Lebanon whose total numbers reach over 10,000.
This week, the Israeli government demanded that the peacekeeping troops retreat in south Lebanon, and the request was subsequently denied by the United Nations (UN).
Given that Israel shows no signs of stopping their military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, it begs the question: what are our troops hoping to achieve there in the first place?
To end conflicts, prevent Israeli incursion into Lebanon
Malaysia has had a military presence in Lebanon since 2007 as part of a UN peacekeeping mission beginning in 1978 during the first Israeli invasion of South Lebanon.
The UN Security Council, through Resolution No. 425 and 426, established Unifil with the purpose of maintaining Lebanon’s territorial integrity and ensuring the withdrawal of Israel’s troops.
The initial countries that contributed soldiers to the mission were Iran, France, Sweden, Canada, Ireland, and Senegal, among others, with the number of participating troops increasing as time went by.
Malaysia’s participation in the mission came after conflict erupted in the area again during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, which saw the UN Security Council adopting Resolution No. 1701 (UNSCR 1701) in a bid to end hostilities between both parties of the conflict.
Through UNSCR 1701, Lebanon saw an additional surge of peacekeeping which would among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities in the region, support Lebanese armed forces as Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and ensure the safe return of individuals displaced because of the war.
A year later on August 10, 2007, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Badawi’s administration sent 100 Malaysian soldiers to Lebanon to be stationed in Marjayoun near the Syrian border, promising to add a further 260 personnel in 2008.
Israel strongly protested Malaysia’s participation in the peacekeeping mission, given Putrajaya’s refusal to establish diplomatic ties and recognise the Jewish state.
In 2013, the number of Malaysian peacekeeping soldiers there increased to 850, and Malaysia’s mission there was named Malbatt 850-1. Since then, Malaysia has sent 11 rotations of peacekeepers to Lebanon, with the 11th Malaysian Batallion (Malbatt 850-11) deployed on November 2023.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said that Malbatt 850-11 will be placed in two stations – Ma’rakah Camp and Tibnin Camp – approximately 10km from the Blue Line, a temporary line of withdrawal set by the UN in 2000 for the practical purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
Reports said that during Israel’s current incursion into Southern Lebanon which began October 1 this year, their troops had crossed the Blue Line.
Not Malaysia’s first foray into peacekeeping missions
Malaysia has participated in more than 39 peacekeeping missions since the 1960s, with its first contribution involving 3,500 personnel to the UN Operation in Congo.
The United Nations Peacekeeping data says Malaysia lost a total of 30 troops since 1960 during missions, however, not all of these deaths occurred during combat.
One notable Malaysian soldier who was killed in action during a peacekeeping mission is Corporal Mat Aznan Awang who served with the United Nations Operation in Somalia in 1993 and was killed by Somali militants during a mission to rescue US troops in Mogadishu.
A year later, during the same UN peacekeeping mission, Warrant Officer II Azman Mohd Tahir, was also killed by a Somali militant ambush.
Currently, besides Lebanon, Malaysian security forces are also participating in peacekeeping operations in South Sudan with a contribution of 24 police officers.
Malaysian civilians are also attached to peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Yemen.
Last year, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin told the Dewan Negara that Malaysia ranked 25th globally in terms of participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, in his former role as defence minister last year, pointed out that Malaysia’s continued participation in peacekeeping missions globally shows recognition and trust of the international community towards the credibility, prestige and professionalism of our soldiers. – October 7, 2024
