SUBANG: The armed forces will begin the process of bringing home equipment from Lebanon by mid next year under its United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) mission.
Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar however said the exact number of equipment to be brought home or retained in Lebanon has yet to be finalised, as the matter will first be presented to the Cabinet before an official decision is announced.
“Some of our equipment will be left behind for their use, while the rest will gradually be brought home starting mid-year.
“God willing, everything will proceed safely, and Malbatt 850-13 will be the final chapter of Malaysia’s involvement in the Unifil mission in Lebanon,” he said during a press conference after officiating the send-off ceremony for the first group of Malbatt 850-13 at the Subang Air Base.
Nizam added that while the mission’s conclusion signifies the end of Malaysia’s peacekeeping deployment in Lebanon, the nation’s commitment to global peacekeeping efforts remains steadfast through the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC).
“Although this is our final mission in Lebanon, the Peacekeeping Centre will continue its operations. It not only provides pre-deployment training but also conducts various peacekeeping-related courses.
“After several years, we have finally received formal recognition from the United Nations for the centre,” he said.
Commenting on the situation in Lebanon, Nizam said the armed forces remain hopeful that peace and stability will prevail.
“God willing, we must remain positive and optimistic. We hope the peace process will succeed and that hostilities will cease.
Although some may be sceptical, we should wait and see. I believe the time has come, after the 13th Malbatt rotation, for Lebanon to take full responsibility for its own national defence,” he said.
It was reported that Malaysia’s deployment under Unifil will end when the UN Security Council (UNSC) mandate expires in 2026.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin previously said the UNSC, in the final week of August, extended Unifil’s mandate for one more year.
The UNSC renewed Unifil’s mandate on Aug 28, 2025, extending it until Dec 31, 2026, and initiating an orderly drawdown of the mission throughout 2027.
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