A SERBIAN PEACEKEEPER has been killed in a shelling of his UN position in south Lebanon this morning.

In a statement the United National Interim Force in lebanon (UNIFIL) said the soldier was killed in Marjayoun in the south-eastern area of the country. 

The Irish troops are located in their main concentration at locations to the west of where the Serbian soldier was killed. All Defence Forces personnel are safe. 

Despite a supposed ceasefire both Israeli forces and militant group Hezbollah are continuing heavy fighting on the ground across UNIFIL’s area of responsibility. The ceasefire agreement is between Israel and the Lebanese government, who are not involved in the fight, but no agreement exists with Hezbollah.

UNIFIL, in a statement said, that the cause of the death was a mortar strike and two other soldiers were injured in the incident. 

“Soon after the incident that happened late last night, the critically injured peacekeeper was flown to a hospital in Beirut where he succumbed to his wounds.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the peacekeeper who lost his life in the service of peace. Our thoughts also go out for the full and speedy recovery of the injured peacekeepers.

“UNIFIL has launched an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to this tragic incident,” the statement said. 

Sources have told The Journal that both the Israeli Defence Forces and Hezbollah are using mortar weapon systems in heavy fighting across the south. Air raids have also continued.

“UNIFIL has detected an increasingly high number of trajectories and impacts in South Lebanon. The violence must end.

“We reiterate our call on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times, including by refraining from actions that may put peacekeepers in danger. We also call on relevant national authorities to investigate the incident, bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability.

“Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701, and may amount to war crimes,” the UNIFIL spokeswoman added. 

There are approximately 170 Serbian peacekeepers part of the larger 7,500-strong UN force, with soldiers from 50 countries, including Ireland.

 The focus of much of the last week’s fighting has been to the north-west of UNIFIL’s area of responsibility in the areas around the city of Tyre. However, locations near Irish soldiers such as Bint Jbeil, At Tiri and Tibnine, have been struck in heavy bombardments. 

This morning those strikes continued across the region and further north into the Bekaa Valley. The Bekaa has been used as a staging position and training area for Hezbollah fighters as well as for fighters coming across the border from bases in Syria.  

Sources have said heavy ground fighting is also taking place with Hezbollah employing drones to target individual IDF soldiers and vehicles. 

In a statement this morning the Irish Defence Forces said its troops from the 128 Infantry Battalion were safe.

“All Irish personnel are well and accounted for. Personnel of the 128th Infantry Battalion continue to employ force protection measures enabling them to observe and monitor the ongoing conflict in line with UNSCR 1701. Óglaigh na hÉireann remains resolute in its commitment to UNIFIL.

“The Defence Forces wishes to extend its sympathies to the family and friends of the peacekeeper who lost his life and our thoughts are with his colleagues who are recovering at this time,” the statement read. 

Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said this morning: “I am deeply saddened by the death of a UNIFIL peacekeeper in southern Lebanon. My heartfelt condolences are with his family, loved ones and fellow peacekeepers at this tragic time.

“My thoughts are also with those injured in the attack, and I wish them a full recovery.”

It has been a bloody few months for UN peacekeepers with three Indonesian soldiers killed in March. In April two French soldiers were killed in an ambush.

Investigations found that both Israel and Hezbollah have been involved in the deaths and injuries. 

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