It is the first time that a peacekeeper has been killed in violence in Lebanon since January 2015, when a Spanish soldier was killed by Israeli gunfire. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, announced Thursday, December 15, the opening of an investigation, after the death of an Irish peacekeeper, the day before, in the attack on the vehicle he was driving. . Three other people were injured in the attack. “near the village of Al-Aqbiya”, UNIFIL added.
This force, made up of some 10,000 peacekeepers, has been deployed since 1978 to act as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel, two countries that remain technically in a state of war after several conflicts.
Two UNIFIL vehicles were heading towards Beirut when they were separated, “one of them having been surrounded by a hostile mob”Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Simon Coveney told Irish radio RTE on Thursday. “Shots were fired, unfortunately one of our blue helmets was killed”.
France calls for an investigation “without delay or hindrance”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said “deeply saddened”, said his spokesperson. He asked “that a rapid investigation be carried out by the competent authorities to determine the facts and establish responsibilities”. The US Embassy in Beirut also condemned the attack, saying it put “Lebanese civilians in danger and jeopardized stability in southern Lebanon”.
In Brussels, the Irish Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, judged “cautious to wait for a fuller investigation“. As for France, which has a contingent within UNIFIL, it has asked “an investigation without delay or hindrance”.
UNIFIL forces were deployed on Thursday, as well as Lebanese soldiers.
There have been incidents in the past between UNIFIL patrols and Hezbollah supporters in border areas controlled by the Shiite movement. The head of Hezbollah’s security apparatus, Wafic Safa, told local channel LBCI that the incident was “unintentional”, calling to wait for the results of the investigation.
