Two UN peacekeepers killed in Lebanon explosion

Iran's envoy to stay in Beirut, defying order to leave

CAIRO/BEIRUT:

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two of its members were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday after an explosion of "unknown origin" destroyed their vehicle.

It said a third peacekeeper was severely wounded and another was also injured in the incident which took place near the Bani Haiyyan municipality.

The incident is the second in 24 hours after a UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded at one of its positions in a southern Lebanese village.

Envoy

Iran said on Monday its ambassador to Lebanon would remain in his post in Beirut, defying the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, which has declared him persona non grata and told him to leave.

With war raging in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel, the Iranian envoy's status has emerged as a focal point of tension between the Iran-backed group and the Lebanese government, which has been heavily critical of Hezbollah for entering the regional war in support of Tehran and called for talks with Israel.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry last week said it had decided to withdraw accreditation for the ambassador-designate, Mohammad Reza Shibani, and asked him to leave by March 29. The ministry said at the time that Shibani had violated diplomatic convention by making statements about Lebanese internal politics.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri opposed the Foreign Ministry's decision and has asked Shibani to remain, sources familiar with Berri's position said.

"Considering the discussions raised by the relevant Lebanese parties and the conclusions reached, the Iranian ambassador will continue his work as ambassador in Beirut and is still present there," Baghaei said.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has issued no statement on the matter since the deadline passed, and didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who praised Lebanon's decision last week, noted on Monday that the deadline had expired and said the Iranian ambassador "is sipping his coffee in Beirut, mocking the host 'country'".

"Lebanon is a virtual state that is, in practice, occupied by Iran," Saar wrote on X. Reuters