An Irish soldier that was part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been killed and three others have been wounded in a shooting attack on their vehicle.
Private Sean Rooney, 23, from Co Donegal, died after an armoured vehicle carrying members of 121st Infantry Battalion came under fire near Sidon, around 30 miles south of Beirut, on Wednesday evening.
The two vehicles became separated as they travelled through the town. Witnesses said the vehicle that was attacked had been blocked by villagers after it took a road along the Mediterranean coast not normally used by the UN force.
According to a Lebanese judicial source, Private Rooney was killed by a bullet to the head when seven projectiles pierced the vehicle. The three others were injured when the vehicle hit a pylon and overturned, the source added. Pictures of the overturned UNIFIL vehicle, covered in bullet holes, were shared online.
The four injured were taken to hospital but Private Rooney was pronounced dead on arrival. Another of the four soldiers is in a serious condition and has had surgery. The other two soldiers were treated for minor injuries.
The four personnel in the second vehicle were uninjured.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he was “deeply shocked and very saddened” by the loss of life.
He said it is “a reminder of the constant sacrifice that our peacekeepers make on a constant basis.”
Ireland has been a constant part of UN peacekeeping forces around the world. The country has lost more peacekeepers than any other nation, showing the sacrifice Irish soldiers make in maintaining peace around the world.
Southern Lebanon is heavily controlled by Hezbollah, the Iranian-controlled terrorist organisation.
Hezbollah has said it was not responsible for the murder and called it an “unintentional incident” between locals and the Irish soldiers.
The Irish army expressed its “deep regret” at Private Rooney’s death.
It said: “On 14 December 2022 at approximately 9.15pm (Irish time), a serious incident took place involving members of 121st Infantry Battalion, UNIFIL.
“A convoy of two Armoured Utility Vehicles (AUVs) carrying eight personnel travelling to Beirut came under small arms fire.”
The army’s chief of staff, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, said: “We in Óglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish army) are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of this tragic event and the loss of one of our peacekeepers.
“Our focus now is to ensure the safety and continued support for all our personnel deployed in Lebanon. A full investigation will commence into this incident.”
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