BEIRUT (AP) – An Irish United Nations (UN) peacekeeper was killed and several others wounded after unidentified attackers opened fire on a convoy in southern Lebanon, Irish and Lebanese military officials said yesterday.
The Irish Defence Forces in a statement said that a pair of armoured vehicles carrying eight Irish UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping troops were fired at as they drove north, toward Beirut, on Tuesday night from the town of Al-Aqbiya.
The Irish military added that one of the three wounded soldiers is in serious condition. It did not identify the assailants. UNIFIL confirmed that one peacekeeper was killed and three were wounded but did not share further details.
“Our thoughts are also with the local civilians who may have been injured or frightened during the incident,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said, adding that “details are sparse and conflicting”. Tenenti added that UNIFIL is coordinating with the military and trying to “determine exactly what happened”.
