KOTA TINGGI, Oct 3 — All members of the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) currently serving in Lebanon are expected to begin returning home in January 2027, following the conclusion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) mandate at the end of this year.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the withdrawal process for the personnel would be carried out in stages via several flights, followed by the return of military assets by sea starting January 17.
He noted that all battalions operating in Lebanon are scheduled to complete their respective deployments by the end of December, in line with the expiration of the mission’s mandate.
“Our personnel are expected to start returning next January on several flights, while Malaysian military assets will be brought back by ship starting January 17,” he said at a press conference following the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kota Tinggi Muslim Orphanage here today.
