Irish troops ‘well and accounted for’ as Lebanon conflict escalates
The sprawling conflict in the Middle East is continuing to wreak a heavy toll on Lebanon, where around 360 Irish peacekeeping troops are stationed.
On Sunday last, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its peacekeepers were fired upon on three separate occasions while conducting patrols around their bases in the south of the country.
The Defence Forces confirmed on Monday that no Irish peacekeepers were targeted in the incidents the previous day, and that all of the Irish soldiers were "well and accounted for".
A statement issued to the Westmeath Independent by the Irish Defence Forces on Monday condemned the attack on UNIFIL personnel and said all parties in the ongoing conflict had a duty to ensure the safety of peacekeepers.
"Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that all Irish personnel deployed in Southern Lebanon are well and accounted for," said the Defence Forces.
"Irish troops were not targeted in (Sunday's) attack on UNIFIL personnel. All necessary force protection measures continue be to observed.
"We condemn any attack on UNIFIL personnel and remind all parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers.
"Our Army personnel continue to carry out all their mandated role and responsibilities," said the Defence Forces spokesperson, who added that Óglaigh na hÉireann remained "resolute in its commitment" to UNIFIL and to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Defence Forces' 127th Infantry Battalion, which is being led by Ballymahon native Lt Col Mark Lennon, deployed to Lebanon in November for a six-month tour of duty following a ceremony in Athlone attended by then-Defence Minister Simon Harris.
Earlier this month, Irish peacekeepers came to the aid of Ghanaian counterparts whose United Nations post in Al-Qaouzah, four kilometres from the Irish soldiers’ base at Camp Shamrock, was hit by a strike.
Three Ghanaian peacekeepers were injured in the incident, with Irish soldiers providing casualty evacuation and firefighting assistance in its aftermath.
UNIFIL said the incident on Sunday saw its peacekeepers being fired upon, "likely by non-state armed groups" while on patrols at Yatar, Dayr Kifa and Qallawiyah.
"The fire in Yatar hit as close as five metres from the peacekeepers.
“The sources of fire in the two other incidents were about 100 and 200 metres away, respectively," said the UNIFIL statement.
"Two patrols returned fire in self-defence and after brief exchanges, the patrols resumed their planned activities. No peacekeeper was injured. The presence of weapons outside State control in the UNIFIL area of operations is a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
"It is unacceptable that peacekeepers performing Security Council-mandated tasks be targeted," UNIFIL added.
According to the BBC, the Israeli military has carried out hundreds of strikes in Lebanon since the war with Hezbollah resumed in recent weeks.
On Monday, the Israeli military says its troops had launched "limited and targeted ground operations" in Lebanon as fighting against Hezbollah intensified around the strategic town of Khiam in the south of the country.