TWO UN PEACEKEEPERS have been killed in south Lebanon, after another peacekeeper was killed a day earlier.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said the incident happened when an “explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan”.

A third peacekeeper was severely injured, and a fourth was also hurt.

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has said she is in daily contact with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and that all Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL are “safe and fully accounted for”.

This is the second fatal incident in the last 24 hours after Indonesia yesterday confirmed one of its peacekeepers had been killed and three others wounded due to “indirect artillery fire”.

Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were tragically killed in south Lebanon today, when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. A third peacekeeper was severely injured, and a fourth was also hurt.

— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) March 30, 2026

“We reiterate that no one should ever have to die serving the cause of peace,” said UNIFIL.

“We extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of those brave peacekeepers who gave their lives in service of peace.”

France’s foreign minister has condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms” and requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

“Such attacks near Blue Helmet positions are unacceptable and unjustifiable,” Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X.

UNIFIL said it has launched an investigation and added:

“We reiterate the urgent need for 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 avoiding any actions that may put peacekeepers in danger.”

It added that such attacks “may constitute war crimes” and that “deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701”.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, stipulates that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers should be deployed in south Lebanon.

“The human cost of this conflict is far too high,” said UNIFIL.

“The violence, as we have said before, must end.”

McEntee meanwhile remarked that “these incidents represent a deeply concerning further escalation.

“My thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues, and I wish those injured a full and speedy recovery,” she added.

McEntee said those “serving under the UN flag do so in pursuit of peace and stability” and that these “incidents are an attack on the very principles of peace, cooperation and international solidarity”.

“There is no military solution to this conflict,” said McEntee.

“The violence must end.”