Malbatt members to be removed from Lebanon if needed - Khaled

The Defence Ministry will execute a plan to remove the Malaysian Battalion 850-12 (Malbatt 850-12) in Lebanon if there is a need to do so based on current conditions.

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the plan will be coordinated with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).

“The Defence Ministry and Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) through the Joint Forces Headquarters is in close communication with Unifil to closely monitor the situation in Lebanon.

“Our troops deployed are also those well trained,” said Khaled as quoted by Utusan Malaysia.

On Thursday, the MAF confirmed that six Malbatt members were injured in an explosion near Saida Stadium, Lebanon.

The incident occurred at 1.54pm local time (7.54pm Malaysian time) while the Malbatt 850-12 team was travelling from Beirut to Marakah Camp.

The MAF said that the explosion targeted a civilian vehicle heading to Beirut but also caused damage to a bus transporting Malbatt 850-12 personnel.

The first deployment of the Malbatt 850-12 team, consisting of 220 officers and members of other ranks, began on Thursday and will continue in stages until Nov 18 as part of their peacekeeping mission under the UN in Lebanon.

MAF further said the change of Malbatt troops between Malbatt 850-11 and Malbatt 850-12 as set by Unifil will proceed according to plan.

The second group of Malbatt 850-12 with a strength of 219 people is expected to depart on Nov 10, it said.

Six Malbatt members injured in Lebanon safe at Marakah Camp

6 Malbatt members injured in Lebanon, says MAF

Malbatt 850-12 crew in Lebanon feared injured by explosive fragments

Malbatt 850-12 deployment to Lebanon begins amid tensions

M'sian troops in Lebanon to undergo troop rotation from Nov 6

Malbatt can return fire if attacked by Israeli forces: Khaled