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Army jawan injured in Lebanon

Sandeep Dikshit

Troops stationed at "hotspots"


  • Indian army seen widening area of responsibilities
  • UNIFIL troops to confirm, monitor withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon

    NEW DELHI: A jawan has been injured in fighting raging across United Nations Peacekeeping Force positions in Lebanon but the rest of the 1,000-odd soldiers are safe, the Army Headquarters said here on Monday.

    Lance Naik Rajinder Singh of the 4 Sikh Regiment was hit by shell splinters and has been evacuated to the nearest hospital. His condition has been described as stable in a communication sent by Commanding Officer of the regiment S. C. Panwar.

    The Indian Army along with a contingent of troops from Ghana are stationed at all five "hotspots" in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel and the exchange of hostilities between Israeli defence forces and Hezbollah militants is taking place across their positions.

    The troops are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and are mandated to confirm and monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.

    Most recently, the mandate of UNIFIL was extended until July 31 this year by a UN Security Council resolution of January 31.

    The Indian Army has gradually seen the widening of its area of responsibilities. January this year saw the posting of an Indian army contingent at Golan Heights for the first time. A group of 185 officers and troops from India are stationed along with contingents from Canada, Japan, Slovakia, Austria and Poland as part of the UN Disengagement Observers Force (UNDOF).

    The Army Headquarters said troops posted at Golan Heights and led by Lt. Col Ajay Singh were safe. The soldiers are from 17 Poona Horse, Corps of Engineers, Electronic & Mechanical Engineers, Signals, medical, Army Service Corps, Military police and Army Postal Service.

    In addition, troops from Ghana and the 4 Sikh battalion from India are separately conducting peacekeeping operations under the UN flag at five hotspots on the Israel-Lebanon border nearby.

    Of these, rockets are flying over the tomb of Sheikh Abbar, half of which falls in Israel and the remaining in Lebano; Rajhar, a village divided between Israel and Lebanon, where clashes have taken place between the Israeli defence forces and Hezbollah; Cheeba farms, close to Golan Heights, where water is at a premium and Israelis and the Hezbollah have frequently differed over the construction of siphons on the Lebanese side.

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