CLOSE CALL
Irish soldiers’ UN convoy vehicle damaged in Lebanon airstrike as ‘escalation of war’ increases ‘danger to peacekeepers’
Micheal Martin said an investigation is being carried out
A UN convoy travelling with Irish troops on board came under attacked from an airstrike in south Lebanon.
Six Irish soldiers were on board when an "explosive blast" struck at around 8pm yesterday.
2
2
No one was injured in the air attack, but the convoy was damaged.
Tánaiste Micheal Martin confirmed the incident today and that it highlights the “wider danger of the war".
The convoy consisted of two armoured vehicles, with six Irish and two Polish peacekeepers.
He said the incident is “still under investigation” and they will bring more clarity later.
READ MORE IN NEWS
He said: “But essentially about eight soldiers and two armoured vehicles, six Irish and two Polish, they were routine patrol and there was an attack, either drone or airstrike on a village that they were patrolling through, either shrapnel or whatever may have pierced the vehicles themselves.
“They are completely safe, they are unscathed and they are back in camp.”
Mr Martin praised the Irish troops for their endless work.
He added: “It is the most noble objective that one can pursue and do, and we must take the protection of those soldiers very seriously.
Most read in The Irish Sun
“We’ll be receiving further information later this afternoon but it is a serious incident, it illustrates the wider escalation of the war in Lebanon in terms of the danger to peacekeepers and the civilian population in Lebanon itself.”
The Irish Defence Forces confirmed there was no casualties.
Irish Defence Forces release epic footage from over Croke Park ahead of All-Ireland final between Limerick and Waterford
A spokesperson said: “The Defence Forces can confirm that yesterday at approximately 2000hrs local time, a 2-vehicle patrol in the IRISHPOLBATT area of operations in UNIFIL South Lebanon was caught in an explosive blast of unknown origin.
“The Defence Forces can confirm all personnel are safe and accounted for.
“There were NO casualties, and both vehicles and all personnel recovered to the Irish position of UNP 245.
“The 124th Infantry Battalion will continue to conduct framework operations and remain the eyes and ears in South Lebanon for the international community.”
Review call
It comes as Taoiseach Simon Harris called for an urgent review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The Fine Gael leader said that the weekend had brought the “grisly milestone” of 40,000 deaths in Gaza “a step closer”, as he condemned an Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter.
The bombing early on Saturday, on the al-Taba’een school in central Gaza city, killed around 80 people and left another 47 injured.
Attack condemned
Reacting, the Taoiseach said: “When people are told to leave, they have nowhere to go, so they often go to schools.
“490 of Gaza’s schools have been bombed or damaged since the start of the war, and this weekend’s images from inside al-Taba’een school are gut-wrenching.
"Ireland condemns outright such awful and wholesale loss of civilian life.
“A ceasefire remains urgently needed, and all sides must immediately work in good faith to bring one about.
“We have all been horrified by the many undoubted war crimes that have been committed in Gaza.
"There can be no impunity. Those responsible must be held to account."