Latest news with #peacekeepers
LBCI
10 hours ago
- General
- LBCI
UNIFIL patrol blocked in southern Lebanon over lack of army escort
A group of young men from the southern town of Seddiqine, in the Tyre district, blocked a UNIFIL patrol attempting to enter the Jabal el-kbir area without a Lebanese army escort. Tensions escalated into a brief scuffle between local residents and U.N. peacekeepers, prompting the intervention of the Lebanese army, which quickly restored calm. Following the army's mediation, the UNIFIL patrol resumed its route back to its base.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Government lodges protest letter over Israeli gunfire near peacekeepers
Ireland has lodged a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired in the vicinity of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The incident came during a joint Irish-United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese armed forces patrol close to the Blue Line on Thursday. Advertisement None of the Irish personnel – who had recently been deployed with Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. Oglaigh na hEireann said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. On the direction of the Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, a formal 'demarche' has been served on the Israeli government through the UN. It says Ireland considers the incident in the village of Yaroun as 'completely unacceptable in terms of the safety of peacekeepers and the execution of their mandated duties'. Advertisement 'These concerns are held at the highest levels' of the Irish Government and the Defence Forces, it adds. Tanaiste Mr Harris was briefed on the incident by the new Chief of Staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. Just before midday on Thursday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired shots into an area where a joint Irish-Lebanese unit was conducting peacekeeping duties. Nobody was injured. Mr Harris said: 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. Advertisement 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment.'
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Irish peacekeepers ‘safe and well' after shots fired close to patrol in Lebanon
Irish peacekeepers serving in southern Lebanon have been described as safe and well following the firing of shots close to a patrol. The Irish Defence Forces said they have received reports that a number of shots were fired in the area of a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line. Advertisement It is understood the incident took place at around midday close to the village of Yaroun. 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, Oglaigh na hEireann said a number of small arms rounds were fired in the vicinity of the area where the patrol was operating. 'The patrol withdrew from the area, there were no injuries to the personnel on the patrol and no damage reported to the armoured vehicles they were operating from,' they said. Advertisement '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 to 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.' Taosieach Micheál Martin said the firing of rounds in the vicinity of Unifil positions in Lebanon is 'completely unacceptable'. 'The safety of peacekeepers carrying out their mandated duties must be respected by all,' he said. Advertisement 'Fortunately all Irish troops are safe and well.' (left to right) Chief of Defence forces Lt General Sean Clancy, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Battalion commander Lt Col Shane Rockett at Camp Shamrock in March (Niall Carson/PA) Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he has been briefed on the incident. 'I want to firstly send my best wishes to the Irish Defence Forces personnel affected in today's incident,' the Tanaiste said. 'While I am very pleased to report that all personnel are safe and well, the fact they came under fire while on patrol is deeply worrying. Advertisement '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.' Earlier Mr Harris 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 having served there to date,' he said. 'We are deeply committed to this vital mission, one that supports peace, delivers stability and protects the communities in southern Lebanon.' Advertisement
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Shots fired at Irish peacekeepers in Lebannon
Irish soldiers, who are serving as peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, have come under fire while on a joint patrol with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) has incident happened 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 Irish Defence Force were no reported injuries and no damage to the armoured vehicles they were operating from. Simon Harris, also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the fact that they "came under fire while on patrol is deeply worrying," RTÉ reported."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." He added that he was pleased soldiers are "safe and well". The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said that what happened was "completely unacceptable".In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he said that "the safety of peacekeepers carrying out their mandated duties must be respected by all". The Irish Defence Forces said the patrol withdrew from the said soldiers "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," a statement said.
LBCI
16-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
UN peacekeepers report 'unacceptable' confrontation in South Lebanon
United Nations peacekeepers reported an "unacceptable" confrontation with locals in South Lebanon on Friday and called on Lebanese authorities to ensure their freedom of movement "without threats." A spokesperson for the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that troops were confronted by a "large group of individuals" during a routine patrol, calling the incident "unacceptable" and calling on Lebanon to "ensure that UNIFIL peacekeepers can carry out their mandated tasks without threats or obstruction." AFP
