Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun visited on Friday UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura to offer condolences upon the death of an Irish peacekeeper in an incident in south Lebanon late Wednesday.
Mikati and Aoun met UNIFIL’s Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro, National News Agency reported.
After offering condolences to Lázaro, Mikati gave an address in which he reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to UNIFIL and to International Security Council Resolution 1701.
“The environment in which peacekeepers operate in south Lebanon is very kind and caring; investigations into the killing are underway, and whoever proves to be guilty will be punished,” affirmed Mikati, as quoted by NNA.
1/8 زار رئيس الحكومة نجيب ميقاتي صباح اليوم المقر العام لقيادة قوة الأمم المتحدة لحفظ السلام في جنوب لبنان” اليونيفيل” في بلدة الناقورة، في زيارة تضامن بعد حادثة مقتل عنصر من الكتيبة الايرلندية وجرح ثلاثة آخرين في بلدة العاقبية في الجنوب أمس الاول …#مجلس_الوزراء #نجيب_ميقاتي pic.twitter.com/kNBMkoRAad
— رئاسة مجلس الوزراء 🇱🇧 (@grandserail) December 16, 2022
An Irish peacekeeper died and three others were wounded late Wednesday in an incident in the southern town of Al-Aqbieh, just outside UNIFIL’s area of operations in south Lebanon.
An Irish vehicle, which was not escorted by Lebanese Army vehicle, deviated from the main high way which links south Lebanon with the capital Beirut, and took the seaside road in Al-Aqbieh, Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon Ali Shoeib quoted locals as saying.
The Irish vehicle ran over one of Lebanese citizens who was among a group of youths gathering to watch a World Cup match. The vehicle didn’t stop and sped away before colliding with several cars in the area, Shoeib said, adding that small arms fire was heard coincidentally at the scene.
Source: Lebanese media
