Schadow
Vice Admiral
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 936
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
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 Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:54 am Post subject: |
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In a drama not seen since June 6, 1944, a fierce fighting force of French has stormed the beaches, this time in Lebanon.
An article in the Edmonton paper relives the saga under the headline:
French land in Lebanon, Mideast in crisis
Is the landing the cause of the crisis? It would appear so. But on with the story (emphasis mine):
| Quote: | By AP
NAQOURA, Lebanon -- French soldiers landed in Lebanon yesterday, the first reinforcements for an expanded UN peacekeeping force tasked with keeping the truce in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Two inflatable dinghies carried the first of nearly 50 troops ashore from two French warships anchored in the Mediterranean near the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, or UNIFIL, in Naqoura, about five kilometres from the Israeli border. Two French military helicopters hovered over the rocky, emerald-green bay where the peacekeepers landed.
The two boats, carrying about five soldiers each, were followed 10 minutes later by a larger landing craft flying a French flag. The arriving troops were already wearing light blue helmets and bullet-proof vests, the UN's signature colour.
Some 150 more French troops would arrive next week, said Cmdr. Bertrand Bonneau, a spokesman for the French contingent.
"Today this is the first step ... France is the first country to deploy additional troops in the region," he said. Those who arrived yesterday were demining teams and military engineers who would focus on clearing unexploded ordnance from large swaths of south Lebanon, he said.
They also brought 14 French military vehicles, mostly armoured personnel carriers, bulldozers, trucks and one jeep, he said.
"The intention is to build up the force to about 3,500 people" in the next two weeks, said Brig.-Gen. J.P. Nehra, the deputy force commander for UNIFIL. The whole force of about 15,000 multinational troops would arrive within three months, Nehra said.
Asked about UNIFIL's rules of engagement, Nehra said: "At the moment these are being worked out ... of course there will be situations where the force may have to use force."
The French troops were the first reinforcements to UNIFIL, tasked with keeping the peace in south Lebanon according to a UN-brokered ceasefire that went into effect tomorrow. Some 15,000 Lebanese soldiers were being deployed alongside them. |
Source
The force may have to use force?! Sacre bleu!
Schadow
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Capt, 8th U.S. Army, Korea '53 - '54 |
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