Irish peacekeepers ‘safe' after withdrawal from patrol in South Lebanon when they came under fire from Israeli army
The military has said that small arms rounds were fired in the vicinity of Irish peacekeepers as they patrolled near the Blue Line, a demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.
Mr Harris, who is also the Defence Minister, has been briefed on the incident in which Irish soldiers were fired at by an IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) patrol.
It's understood it took place at around midday close to the village of Yaroun in Southern Lebanon.
None of the Irish personnel – who were recently deployed to UNIFIL as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident.
In a statement, the Tánaiste said it illustrates the dangers that Defence Forces personnel face as they continue to maintain peace in the region.
'I want to firstly send my best wishes to the Irish Defence Forces personnel affected in today's incident. While am very pleased to report that all personnel are safe and well, the fact they came under fire while on patrol is deeply worrying,' Mr Harris said.
'Today's incident illustrates the dangers that our peacekeepers face every single day while on a patrol in a region that has been increasingly unstable and volatile.'
The Defence Forces confirmed that they have 'received reports of an incident this morning involving a joint Irish UNIFIL & Lebanese Armed Forces Patrol near the Blue Line in South Lebanon.
'A number of small arm rounds were fired in the vicinity of the area in which the Patrol was operating. The patrol withdrew from the area, there was no injuries to the personnel on the patrol and no damage reported to the armoured vehicles they were operating from.
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'All Personnel of the Irish Contingent in Lebanon are reported to be safe and well, they continue to monitor the situation in Southern Lebanon and are committed the stability of the region as impartial peacekeepers.
'We wish to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers.'
The incident took place on International UN Peacekeepers' Day as the Tánaiste announced the renewal of Ireland's UNIFIL Mandate for a further 12 months.
'Ireland is proud to have been part of the UNIFIL Mission since 1978 with 30,000 personnel have served there to date.
'We are deeply committed to this vital mission, one that supports peace, delivers stability and protects the communities in Southern Lebanon.'
The 126th Infantry Battalion deployed to the Middle Eastern country this month as part of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (Unifil) mission.
It is made up of 298 Irish soldiers as well as 10 troops from the Armed Forces of Malta, with over a third of personnel deploying on their first overseas mission.
In January four Lebanese, including a soldier, were injured after the Israeli army opened fire on army personnel and civilians on the Yaroun-Maroun al-Ras Road.
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