ALBAWABA - An Irish peacekeeper was killed in Lebanon, Wednesday, sending jitters across the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon's mission on Israel's northern border.
#BREAKING Irish peacekeeper killed in south Lebanon: UN force pic.twitter.com/8tdhBWd1kP
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 15, 2022
Three other people were wounded when the UNIFEL convoy came under fire as it traveled to the Lebanese capital Beirut. The shooting took place in the village of Al-Aqbiya, which is just outside UNIFIL's area of operations.
⚠️?? ?? "A convoy of two armoured utility vehicles carrying eight personnel travelling to Beirut came under small arms fire" late Wednesday, the Irish military said.https://t.co/jq20t2M675 via @LOrientToday
— Matthieu Karam (@MatthieuKaram) December 15, 2022
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney expressed "profound sadness and a deep sense of shock" over the peacekeeper's death, according to AFP.
Irish UN peacekeeper killed after attack in southern #Lebanon
— Kareem Chehayeb | كريم شهيب (@chehayebk) December 15, 2022
Military officials said unidentified attackers opened fire on the @UNIFIL_ convoy.
3 other Irish peacekeepers were wounded, one in "serious condition"@AP/@APMiddleEasthttps://t.co/yxESVvdRie
The UNIFEL has been operating in southern Lebanon since 1978. The mission was established under a U.N. Security Council mandate in the wake of Israel's invasion of its northern neighbor.
An Irish soldier has been killed on a #UN peacekeeping mission in #Lebanon when a convoy of two armored utility vehicles traveling to Beirut came under small arms fire, #Ireland’s defense forces say in a statement.https://t.co/9p2xSFgIYu
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) December 15, 2022
Boasting of nearly 10,000 troops, the U.N. force acts as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, which remain technically at war ,the French news agency pointed out.
