- The Irish soldier was serving on a peacekeeping mission when the convoy was attacked with small arms.
An Irish soldier has been killed on a United Nations peacekeeping mission after a convoy of two armoured utility vehicles carrying eight people traveling to Beirut came under attack with small arms, the Irish defense forces said in a statement.
Another member of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is in serious condition after undergoing surgery following Wednesday night’s incident, the statement said. Two other soldiers are being treated for minor injuries.
“It is with deep regret that Óglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish defense forces) can confirm the death of one of our peacekeepers in a serious incident in Lebanon last night,” the defense forces said.
The reason behind the attack is unclear.
Irish Defense Minister Simon Coveney, who is in New York for a UN Security Council meeting, said he will meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres later on Thursday to discuss the incident.
“As a people, we are proud of our uninterrupted record of peacekeeping with the United Nations. However, we must never forget the dangers that come with this work,” Irish President Michael D. Higgins said in a statement.
UNIFIL was established in 1978 to oversee the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
It is comprised of more than 10,000 people from various countries around the world, led by Indonesia, India, and Italy.
Source: REUTERS
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