'Irish troops are increasingly in jeoprady' as IDF launch four more attacks in Lebanon
Israeli tanks fired on UNIFIL positions as part four separate attacks in the centre of Beirut
Plans are in place to remove Irish soldiers and peacekeepers from Lebanon if threats to their safety continue after attacks in the centre of Beirut yesterday, October 10.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) were targeting a senior Hezbollah official in the centre of Beirut when according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, they killed twenty two people and injured 117 in two separate apartment blocks. Five people are still missing under rubble after the attacks.
Following the attacks, UN spokesperson Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the UN Security Council that UNIFIL troops in Lebanon are "increasingly in jeopardy" and operational activities have virtually come to a halt since September 23.
There were two incidents of the IDF firing against UNIFIL troops in the four attacks that took place October 10.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council: “Peacekeepers have been confined to their bases with significant periods of time in shelter,” adding that the mission, known as UNIFIL, was "ready to support all efforts towards a diplomatic solution."
The spokesperson's comments followed attacks by the IDF where he says Israeli forces had deliberately fired on its positions, injuring two peacekeepers from Indonesia.
UNIFIL has called the attacks on peacekeepers “a grave violation of international humanitarian law”.