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| Another Indian peacekeeping battalion wins acclaim in Lebanon | | |
New Delhi, Aug 26: Army's 4th Sikh battalion has become yet another Indian contingent to win 'Unit Citation' Award for its herculean efforts in peacekeeping operations in war-torn southern Lebanon.
The battalions would also be complimented personally by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who will be visiting them on August 29 and 30, an Army Spokesman said here.
Posted in the most turbulent eastern portion of southern Lebanon, which witnessed heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militia, the battalion was awarded the citation by force commander French Major General Alain Pellegrini.
"A total of 21 officers, eight junior commissioned officers and 44 of other ranks have also been commended individually for their stupendous performance", the citation passed to the Indian Army Headquarters here said.
The 4th Sikh battalion has been deployed in southern Lebanon in UN peackeeping mandate for the past two years and had replaced the Gorkha Battalion.
However, uncertainty still lurks over the continuance of the battalion in peacekeeping role in the area as the mandate of the UN Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) comes to an end on August 31.
The French Army and the Italians have pumped in three more battalions amidst reports that the mandate of the UNIFIL might be changed from peacekeeping to peace enforcement.
The new forces are being deployed as buffer between Israeli forces and Shiite Hizbollah militia.
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