Germany To Contribute 1,200 Troops To Lebanon Peacekeeping Force
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Berlin, Germany (AHN) - German Defense Minister Franz Josef on Thursday said his government will be sending over 1,200 troops to form part of the 15,000 international peacekeeping force scheduled to be deployed in southern Lebanon. In addition, Germany will also be sending warships backed by surveillance aircrafts to prevent Hezbollah from rearming itself. Jung said, "This is still being agreed, particularly with the Lebanese government. But I expect that the number will probably be greater." The German defense secretary's statement is a welcome development for the planned peacekeeping force in Lebanon. Previously, Berlin has refused to give a solid commitment to the U.N. force unless the world body has clearly defined the mission of the peacekeepers. Sending troops in the Middle East is a sensitive issue among the Germans because of their Nazi past. The government is trying to avoid a situation where its soldiers might have to confront Israeli soldiers. For its humanitarian efforts, Jung said the German air force has delivered over 90 metric tons of baby food, medicine and tents to Lebanon. Berlin has also offered to repair water supplies and clean up oil spill on the Lebanese coast to assist the war-ravaged country in its rehabilitation efforts.
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