VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government confirmed that a plan has been drawn up together with the Irish authorities to evacuate seven Maltese soldiers stationed in Lebanon close to the Israeli border after the war in the region dramatically intensified as from last Tuesday, when Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel.
Malta and Ireland are both neutral countries. The operation forms part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The mission is known as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), that has around 10,500 peacekeepers from 50 contributing countries.
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said that the soldiers, who voluntarily signed up for the six-month peacekeeping mission, are safe and are being constantly monitored. The Maltese soldiers are in Camp Shamrock, alongside Irish, Polish and Hungarian troops.
“We are following what is happening in Lebanon and are very concerned with the situation. We have also drawn an evacuation plan with the Irish authorities in case we are forced to get the soldiers out of Lebanon and take them to a secure place before bringing them back to Malta.”
The Maltese soldiers are stationed in Lebanon, around seven kilometres from the Israeli border as part of a broader international effort aimed at maintaining stability in a region marked by conflict.
– Photo Malta Army –
(ITALPRESS).
