Malaysia to send 150 peacekeeping troops to join UNIFIL force
Malaysia will send 150 additional troops to Lebanon to join the Malcon West contingent serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), possibly by end of the month, Malaysia”s National News Agence (Bernama) reported on Tuesday.
Malaysia”s Air Force Chief Azizan Ariffin said the armed forces were ready for the deployment and were now awaiting the approval from the Indonesian cabinet.
"We received a request from the United Nations[to send] additional troops. This is an honor for the country and the armed forces … the government will make the final decision," he told reporters during a military parade in Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia”s peacekeeping force in Lebanon, dubbed the Malcon Contingent, is split into two, with 230 peacekeepers stationed near the border village of Tiri in south Lebanon”s western sector, dubbed Malcon West, and a remaining 360 troops stationed in the village of Kawkaba, in south Lebanon”s eastern sector, Malcon East.
Ariffin said if his government approved the deployment, there would be a restructuring in the Malaysian peacekeeping force in Lebanon, with 60 Malcon East members to be transferred to the Malcon West.
Ariffin said the Malaysian troops” programs in their area of operations in south Lebanon, "uplifted the spirit of the local community."