Explosion at UN UNIFIL forces south Lebanon

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />UPDATE 5:04pm GMT/1:04pm EST: Withen 15 minutes, the Lebanses government will make an announcment regarding this incident.  Hezbullah, as well as other Lebanese parties, denounced this attack on UNIFIL.

 

It is very serious incident because its the first time UN forces are targeted, even though they were threatened many time before.

 

Reporters are not allowed near the explosion area yet. Some reports say that it could be a remote controlled explosion, others say it could be a mine that hit the Spanish vehicle. Looking at the size of casualties, and the fact that the UN personnel use armored vehicles, this could be large explosions.

UPDATE 4:14pm GMT:  casualties seem to increase. Latest reports saying that Five soldiers are dead. 

 

UPDATEL 4:00pm GMT: UNIFIL spokesman just announced that the explosion was cause by an exploded device 

UPDATE 3:50pm GMT: Latest reports saying that 4 foldiears are dead, and 3 injured. 

 

BEIRUT June 24,2007 3:28pm GMT/ 11:28am EST - Report just came in of an explosion rocks the Spanish forces of the UNIFIL UN forces in Khiyam valley facing Marjeyoon village, south of Lebanon. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

 

Six Spanish soldiers wounded and three are dead.

 It is not yet clear if this explosion was from an old mine remaining of last year's war between Israel and Hizbullah, or a new one targeting the UNIFIL forces. If that is the case then this would be a dangerous acceleration in the Lebanese crisis, and would be the firs t time the UNIFIL is targeted. No comments yet from the Lebanese forces nor from the UNIFIL.  

 

The UN UNIFIL forces consists of about 12,000 from thirty countries, their mandate is according to the UN resolution 1701 to monitor the boarder and the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.