A “hostile” crowd surrounded their armored vehicle, causing one Irish soldier on a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon to be shot and killed while a second was left critically injured, according to Ireland’s defense minister on Thursday.
The incident occurred in Al-Aqbieh late on Wednesday. The soldiers, who are a part of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), were traveling on what Simon Coveney, who is also Ireland’s foreign minister, described as a “standard run” from UNIFIL’s area of operations in south Lebanon to Beirut.
“In reality, the two armored vehicles split apart. Shots were fired when one of them was surrounded by a hostile mob, which is the only way I can think to describe them. Sadly, one of our peacekeepers lost their lives, Coveney told RTE, the Irish national broadcaster.
This was not anticipated; yes, there has recently been some conflict between Hezbollah forces and UNIFIL on the ground, but nothing on this scale.
According to Irish defense forces chief of staff Seán Clancy, the convoy carrying eight personnel was heading to Beirut while two of the personnel were returning to Ireland on compassionate leave following the death of family members.
After undergoing surgery, the second soldier is still in critical condition in a hospital under UN control, according to Clancy.
The remaining four personnel from the other vehicle were unharmed, but the two additional soldiers in that one are receiving treatment for minor wounds.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon declared that it had begun an investigation and was coordinating with the Lebanese armed forces.
In a statement, UNIFIL noted that “at this time, details are scarce and conflicting.”
Najib Mikati, the interim prime minister of Lebanon, apologized sincerely for the incident and called for an investigation, pleading with all parties to “show wisdom and patience.”
The Lebanese army expressed its condolences but provided no further information about the incident.
A senior Hezbollah official claimed the death of an Irish soldier on a UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon was the result of a “unintentional incident,” and the armed group was not involved.
According to Wafiq Safa, Reuters received a condolence message from his party “after the unintentional incident that occurred between the residents of Al-Aqbieh and individuals from the Irish unit,” and Wafiq Safa pleaded with the party not to be “inserted” into the situation.
In order to discuss the incident, Coveney, who is in New York for a UN Security Council meeting, said he will meet with UN Secretary General António Guterres later on Thursday.
It is the first Irish fatality in Lebanon in 20 years, according to Coveney, who noted that Irish peacekeepers have been stationed there since 1978.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin told reporters in Brussels, “We’re all very shocked and deeply saddened; it is a reminder to us of the extraordinary sacrifices that our peacekeepers make on a regular basis.”
Source: Reuters