Irish soldiers serving as peacekeepers in southern Lebanon came under fire during a joint patrol with the Lebanese Armed Forces near the Blue Line, the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel. The Irish Defence Forces reported that several small arms rounds were fired in the vicinity of the patrol area. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the armoured vehicles used during the patrol were not damaged.
The Irish government has condemned the incident. Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris described the attack as “utterly inappropriate, utterly unacceptable,” emphasizing the need to contact the Israeli government regarding the matter. He expressed concern over what he termed as “intimidatory behaviour” by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) towards peacekeepers and diplomats.
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin also condemned the attack, stating that the safety of peacekeepers carrying out their mandated duties must be respected by all parties. The Irish Defence Forces have since withdrawn the patrol from the area but continue to monitor the situation, reaffirming their commitment to the stability of the region as impartial peacekeepers.
