Spanish troops to return to the Middle East

Spain’s parliament has voted to send over 1,000 troops to join the United Nation peacekeepers in Lebanon. The move was overwhelmingly supported in the Lower chamber, with only two abstentions and no votes against. Defence Minister Jose Antonio Alonso said: “The mission was risky but necessary, justifiable but more than that, a moral obligation.”

The soldiers will join others from several European countries and beyond. The UN force will eventually number 15,000, with a brief to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah. Spain’s socialist government withdrew its troops from Iraq when it took power. This deployment has its support because it has been organised by the UN.

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