French soldiers with the United Nations

Deir Kifa, LEBANON: French soldiers with the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) perform their daily practice on infrared surface-to-air missile Mistral at their base in Deir Kifa in south Lebanon, 11 January 2007. French troops were last year "two seconds" away from firing at Israeli aircraft diving towards their position in southern Lebanon, Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in parliament. The incident occurred on October 31, the defense ministry told AFP, without giving the exact location. With a 1,600-strong force of "blue helmets", France is the second largest contributor to UNIFIL, beefed up after the UN-brokered truce between Lebanon and Hezbollah took effect on August 14. France will transfer command of the 11,000-strong force to Italy, the main contributor with 2,300 soldiers, in February. AFP PHOTO/RAMZI HAIDAR (Photo credit should read RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP via Getty Images)