Six Spanish peacekeeping troops in Lebanon killed
Lebanon-UN, Politics, 6/25/2007

EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, today strongly condemned attacks on Spanish peacekeeping troops in Lebanon.

"The European Commission condemns in the strongest terms the heinous attack perpetrated against Spanish peacekeeping troops in Lebanon. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims of this attack, and with the Spanish people. Those responsible should be swiftly brought to justice," said the EU Commissioner in a statement.

Six soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed Sunday after their vehicle was hit by an explosive device.

Three were Colombians in the Spanish army, and three were from Spain. Two other Spanish soldiers were injured in the incident.

The European Commission, the EU's executive body, called on all Lebanese politicians "to unite in order to face the serious security challenges that Lebanon is currently facing."

Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri condemned the attack saying it was a dangerous terrorist attack that targeted the security of Lebanon and not only the peacekeeping force, UNIFIL. In a telephone call to Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Miguel Benzo Biriel, Hariri expressed his condolences for the bombing and said it aimed at blocking the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Hariri also stressed that the attack was part of attempts to expand the threat of violence across Lebanon, and urged the international community and UNIFIL to continue shouldering their responsibilities toward Lebanon, especially in the border region despite today’s terrorist operation. He also called on Lebanese political leaders to voice solidarity with UNIFIL and to commit to Resolution 1701, which is the real guarantor of security in the country, especially in the South. He said all security breaches, by parties opposed to Lebanon and its people, must be rejected.

Head of the Future Bloc pointed out that the attack against the Spanish battalion comes days after a Katyusha rocket was launched across the border, and amid threats to target UNIFIL by parties whose regional allegiances are well known.

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