Today, Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) asked the Lebanese authorities to expedite the completion of investigations and hold the perpetrators accountable. A shooting incident resulted in the death of an Irish memberaccording to what her spokesperson told reporters.
On Wednesday night, a 23-year-old Irish member of the UNIFIL force was killed, and three others were injured as a result of an “incident” in which bullets were fired at an armored vehicle while it was passing in the Al-Aqibiya area, 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 specialized Irish team of eight people, including three investigators from the Military Police, is supposed to arrive in Lebanon on Saturday to examine the circumstances of the accident and provide support to the victims, according to a spokesman for the Irish Ministry of Defense.
“The incident is very serious, and it is important for the Lebanese authorities to 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’s headquarters in Naqoura, south Lebanon.
He added, “Investigations are ongoing, but I want to make it clear that the killing of a UNIFIL peacekeeper is a crime once morest the international community and once morest the peacekeepers who are here in southern Lebanon to ensure security is maintained along the Blue Line,” which constitutes the ceasefire line between Lebanon and Israel. who are at war.
Tenenti confirmed that UNIFIL operations and patrols are continuing in the area.
Today, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Army Commander Joseph Aoun visited UNIFIL headquarters, where they met UNIFIL Commander-in-Chief Major General Aroldo Lazaro.
Mikati and Aoun meet with the UNIFIL Commander
Mikati said following the meeting,Investigations are continuing to uncover the circumstances of the accidentIt is necessary to avoid its recurrence 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 reported that two armored vehicles with eight people on board were subjected to “small weapons fire” while on their way to Beirut.
From time to time, problems occur between UNIFIL patrols and Hezbollah supporters in the border area, which is a major stronghold of the party, but it rarely escalates and the Lebanese authorities quickly contain it.