KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 – As Malaysian peacekeepers prepare to leave southern Lebanon following the end of a long-running United Nations (UN) mission, Lebanon has paid tribute to their sacrifices and contribution to maintaining peace in the region.
Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi expressed his appreciation during a meeting with Malaysia’s newly appointed Ambassador to Lebanon Anwar Udzir.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Raggi said they also discussed the situation in southern Lebanon and developments following the conclusion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission.
“I thanked him for the sacrifices made by Malaysian soldiers in their efforts to maintain peace in the south,” Raggi said.
The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic relations, particularly through trade and investment.
Malaysia began contributing peacekeeping personnel to UNIFIL in 2007, initially on a small scale, before expanding its deployment to a full battalion in 2013 following UN approval.
On Oct 3, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) personnel serving in Lebanon were expected to begin returning home in January 2027 following the conclusion of UNIFIL’s mandate at the end of this year.
The withdrawal will take place in stages, with personnel returning on several flights from Jan 17, followed by military assets transported by sea.
The United Nations Security Council voted in August 2025 to end UNIFIL’s mandate on Dec 31, 2026, followed by a gradual, coordinated withdrawal over the following year.
