Malaysia Deploys Troops to Lebanon as Part of UN Peacekeeping Force

Malaysia has made a significant contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by dispatching a batch of 365 soldiers, including 100 elite troops who departed for Beirut on January 2, 2007. This deployment is part of a larger peacekeeping effort aimed at maintaining stability in the region. The Malaysian troops will be based at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, with five officers already serving there, while the rest will join the advance team on January 15.

Key Takeaways:

Malaysia dispatched 100 elite troops to serve in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on January 2, 2007.
A total of 365 Malaysian soldiers, including 260 who will join the advance team on January 15, will serve in UNIFIL for an initial term of six months.
The troops underwent two months of special preparatory training in Malaysia, including language lessons in Arabic and English.
The deployment marks Malaysia's commitment to international peacekeeping efforts.
The Malaysian troops will be based at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, with five officers already serving there.
Kuala Lumpur had initially offered to send 1,000 soldiers, but the UN approved a deployment of 360 troops.
Deputy Defense Minister Zainal Abidin Zin emphasized that the 365 soldiers (including the five officers already serving) would serve for a tentative term of six months before being replaced by a second group.

Statistics:

365 Malaysian soldiers will serve in UNIFIL, including 100 who departed for Beirut on January 2, 2007.
260 soldiers will join the advance team on January 15.
The initial deployment is for six months, with a plan to replace the troops with a second contingent after that.
Kuala Lumpur had initially offered to send 1,000 soldiers to UNIFIL.

Sources:

Xinhua via COMTEX (Jan 2, 2007)
Bernama (no date mentioned)