Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris urged Israel to stop attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon after recent incidents. Irish troops are part of the UN mission in Lebanon, which faces tensions in the region. Harris called for full protection of peacekeepers following discussions with President Biden.
Dublin, Ireland – Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris has called on Israel to stop firing on United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, responding to recent incidents where UNIFIL soldiers were injured.
UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, includes 347 Irish soldiers within its 10,000 troops tasked with maintaining peace in the region.
Harris emphasized the importance of Israel listening to the international community's concerns.
The latest incident involved Israeli forces firing at a perceived threat near a UNIFIL position, resulting in two Sri Lankan peacekeepers being wounded.
This follows an earlier incident where two Indonesian soldiers were injured by tank fire.
Fortunately, no Irish personnel were harmed.
Harris, after discussions with US President
Joe Biden, reinforced the need for full protection of UN peacekeepers.