With profound sorrow and regret, the defense minister of Ireland, Simon Coveney, announced the passing of an Irish soldier participating in the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission on Thursday.
The incident occurred when a belligerent group surrounded two armored vehicles transporting the soldiers on Wednesday night in Sarafand.
According to Coveney, the Irish peacekeepers were traveling from the south of Lebanon to Beirut “when a hostile crowd enclosed one of the armored vehicles.”
Regrettably, one soldier lost their life during the assault, and another was left in critical condition.
In the face of this tragic event, Coveney expressed gratitude for the commitment and professionalism of all personnel serving abroad on behalf of Ireland.
An UNIFIL team of eight personnel, en route to Beirut, was ambushed on Wednesday evening.
During the incident, two of the members suffered fatal injuries, while another remains in critical condition in a hospital managed by the UN.
The remaining four personnel escaped unharmed. UNIFIL has declared that they are presently collaborating with the Lebanese armed forces and commencing an investigation into the ambush.
This ambush was certainly not expected, given the recent presence of tension between Hezbollah forces and UNIFIL.
The United Nations is currently striving to unravel the circumstances surrounding an event that took place in Sarafand on Sunday evening.
Some sources have suggested that the vehicle in question had taken a wrong direction and deviated from the main highway.
The peaceful ambiance in the area was disrupted when a crowd gathered immediately after the conclusion of a World Cup match.
Accounts vary; some claim that UN peacekeepers were attempting to leave the area and either collided with someone or were met with gunfire from local residents, resulting in a vehicle overturning.
With conflicting details still emerging, uncertainties persist concerning the occurrences on Sunday night in Sarafand.
Protests erupted in southern Lebanon following the fatality of a UNIFIL peacekeeper and the injury of two others when a gunman opened fire on their convoy.
While it has yet to be established whether the attack was intentional or accidental, UNIFIL forces have been confronted with minor incidents and skirmishes in the region recently.
In response to the grievous news, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has conveyed his profound regret and urged all involved parties to act with prudence and forbearance. Conversely, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his sorrow over the peacekeeper’s demise.
All attention will now be focused on the authorities as the investigation into the incident gets underway.
Following the attack on a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, government officials and international organizations have united in condemning the violent occurrence.
The US embassy released a statement denouncing violence against peacekeepers, recognizing that such an attack endangers Lebanese civilians and destabilizes the region.
Additionally, the United States has called for an “immediate investigation” to uncover the facts related to the incident, with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar joining this call and urging authorities to conduct a swift inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army has extended condolences, while Hezbollah has disavowed any involvement in what they described as an “unintentional incident.”
Regardless of the responsible party, it is evident that prompt action is necessary from relevant authorities to ensure accountability and safeguard citizens from further acts of violence.
Wafiq Safa, the leader of a Lebanese political party, conveyed his condolences for the unintentional incident that resulted in the death of an Irish peacekeeper in Lebanon.
He implored that his party should not be implicated in any way with the incident.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney, held discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to address the tragedy.
The Irish Peacekeepers have been stationed in Lebanon since 1978, and this marks the first Irish casualty in 20 years.
Prime Minister Micheál Martin addressed the press, expressing astonishment and profound sadness over this event as a reminder of the constant extraordinary courage and commitment exhibited by our peacekeepers there.
