Ireland Lodges Formal Protest Over Israeli Gunfire Near Peacekeepers Lebanon

Irish peacekeepers serving in southern Lebanon came under fire from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) during a joint patrol with the Lebanese Armed Forces near the Blue Line, with no injuries reported. Ireland has lodged a formal letter of objection with Israel via the United Nations, condemning the incident as reckless, intimidatory, and a breach of international peacekeeping rules. Defence Minister Simon Harris and Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the shooting as completely unacceptable and emphasized the importance of respecting the safety of peacekeepers. The Irish Defence Forces confirmed all personnel were safe, the patrol withdrew from the area, and monitoring of the situation in southern Lebanon continues. Officials praised the peacekeepers' work in a volatile and unstable region and called on all parties to ensure the security of UN peacekeepers. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by Irish troops deployed as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).