Belgian peacekeepers to return home from Lebanon

The Belgian peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has come to an end, as stipulated in the new coalition agreement. Within less than a month, all the UN peacekeepers will be back in Belgium, according to military sources.

The last day of operation for the Belgian peacekeepers in Lebanon was November 15. As of November 16, the majority of the troops were headed home, and the rest are expected to be back in Belgium by the end of the year.

Some 23 Belgian battalions have been stationed in Lebanon since 2006, mainly to carry out demining operations along the Blue Line (the withdrawal line between Lebanon and Israel established in 2000). Initially, the Belgian contingent was made up of 350 soldiers, but it was gradually reduced to around 100 soldiers.