An Irish soldier on UN Peacekeeping duty was shot and killed in South Lebanon on Wednesday night, while three others have been wounded.
The soldiers are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). They were traveling from South Lebanon to Beirut in a UN convoy when they were “surrounded by a hostile mob,” according to Irish Defense Minister Simon Coveney to RTÉ radio.
“I think that’s the only way you could describe them,” he said about the attackers, adding “and shots were fired.”
UNIFIL announced that it had launched an investigation and was working with the Lebanese Army. However, “details are sparse and conflicting” at the moment.
Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged all parties to demonstrate “wisdom and patience,” while the Lebanese Army expressed its condolences.
