The Belgian peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon has been extended by six months until Oct. 15 this year, Belgian media reported on Saturday.

The decision to prolong the Belgian troops' stay in the Middle East was announced at the end of a meeting of the Belgian federal cabinet on Friday.

The 375 Belgian soldiers were sent to Lebanon following last summer's 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. They form part of the United Nations' 11,000-strong peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) there.

The Belgian troops are involved in reconstruction work and the removal of anti-personnel land mines in southern Lebanon. The area was badly hit during last summer's conflict.

Earlier this month, three Belgian soldiers were killed in Lebanon when the brakes on their armored vehicle failed to function. Last December, two Belgian soldiers were seriously wounded while performing de-mining work in southern Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua