Jumblat: UNIFIL Attack Aimed at Pressuring Participating Countries to Lower Number of Troops

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat condemned Friday’s attack against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, wondering whether the timing was connected to “very sensitive” political situation on the internal and regional scenes.

He asked in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Was the attack aimed at pressuring the participating countries in UNFIL to lower the number of troops who have played a major role in implementing U.N. Security Council resolution 1701?”

He chose not to comment on other local developments.

Addressing regional developments and Egypt’s decision to open the Rafah crossing between it and the Gaza Strip, Jumblat described it as a major step forward that could help alleviate the Gazans’ plight.

On the situation in Yemen, the MP noted: “It seems that the Yemeni president’s stubbornness is aimed at destroying the country and dragging it to civil war and division.