Today, Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called on the Lebanese authorities to speed up the completion of the investigation and to hold the perpetrators accountable. A shooting resulted in the death of an Irish memberhis spokesman told reporters.
On Wednesday night, a 23-year-old Irish member of the UNIFIL force was killed and three others were injured following an “incident” in which bullets were fired at an armored vehicle as it was passing through the Al-Aqibiya area zone, outside the UNIFIL area of operations, in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese military judiciary is investigating the incident and one of the Irish soldiers is still in intensive care in a hospital in Sidon.
A specialist Irish team of eight, including three military police investigators, is expected to arrive in Lebanon on Saturday to examine the circumstances of the crash and provide support to the victims, according to an Irish Defense Ministry spokesman.
“The incident is very serious and it is important that the Lebanese authorities ensure speed, not only in resolving the case, but also in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told reporters outside the force headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon.
He added: “The investigation is ongoing, but I want to clarify that the killing of a UNIFIL peacekeeper is a crime against the international community and against the peacekeepers who are here in southern Lebanon to ensure security along the blue line.” which forms the ceasefire line between Lebanon and Israel, both at war.
Tenenti confirmed that UNIFIL operations and patrols are continuing in the area.
Today, Lebanese Interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Army Commander Joseph Aoun visited UNIFIL headquarters, where they met with UNIFIL Commander-in-Chief Major General Aroldo Lazaro.
Mikati and Aoun meet with the UNIFIL commander
Mikati said after the meeting,Investigations are continuing to clarify the circumstances of the accidentIt is necessary to prevent it from happening again in the future.
UNIFIL did not specify what exactly happened On Wednesday night, confirming that the incident occurred outside its area of operations, while the Irish Army said two armored vehicles carrying eight people were subjected to “small arms fire” while they were heading for Beirut.
From time to time, problems arise between UNIFIL patrols and Hezbollah supporters in the border area, which is one of the party’s main strongholds, but they rarely escalate and the Lebanese authorities quickly contain it.
