Hezbollah Member Sentenced in Irish Peacekeeper Killing

A Lebanese military tribunal sentenced Mohammad Ayyad, reportedly a member of Hezbollah, to death in absentia for the 2022 killing of Irish peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney, who was shot while transporting soldiers to Beirut airport near the Hezbollah stronghold of Al-Aqbiya. Ayyad, who had been released on bail before his trial, did not appear in court and remains at large. Several other men received lesser sentences or fines for their roles in the attack, penalties that Irish officials and Rooney’s family criticized as too lenient. Lebanon has maintained a moratorium on executions for about 20 years, so Ayyad’s sentence is expected to be commuted. Irish leaders expressed both relief at the convictions and disappointment over delays and the inability to apprehend Ayyad. The case highlights the risks faced by peacekeepers and ongoing calls for accountability in attacks on UN forces.