Updated: 5.45pm
Additional reporting by Vivienne Clarke and Reuters.
A member of the Irish Defence Forces was killed while carrying out UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon on Wednesday night.
Private Seán Rooney (23), from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was involved in a "serious incident" at approximately 9.15pm Irish time, when two-vehicle convoy carrying members of the 121st Infantry Battalion — United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, or UNIFIL — came under "small arms fire" in al-Aqbieh, southern Lebanon.
Private Rooney joined the Defence Forces in March 2019 and previously served overseas with the 119th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL.
Following the incident, Private Rooney, along with three other soldiers, were brought to a hospital near Sidon. The young peacekeeper was pronounced dead on arrival.
Another soldier is said to be in "critical condition" at a UN managed hospital having undergone surgery, while two other soldiers were treated for minor injuries.
Minister for Defence Simon Coveney described the incident as shocking and tragic. He told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland it was the first fatality in 20 years for the peacekeeping force.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said Ireland has participated in 30,000 tours of duty in Lebanon since 1978, where good relationships have been established with locals.
“This was not expected, yes there were some tensions on the ground, but nothing like this.”
Mr Coveney explained the Irish personnel were travelling to Beirut in two armoured vehicles on a standard run.
It was not yet certain what had happened, but the two vehicles became separated and one was surrounded by “a hostile mob”, he explained.
Shots were fired and one peacekeeper was killed and another seriously injured. Two others suffered less serious injuries but remain in hospital, the Minister said.
'Unintentional incident'
Senior Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa told Reuters his party offered its condolences "after the unintentional incident that took place between the residents of al-Aqbieh and individuals from the Irish unit," and urged the party not be "inserted" into the incident.
Safa said he had spoken to the force's head, Aroldo Lazaro, to express the party's condolences.
UNIFIL said it was coordinating with the Lebanese army and had launched an investigation, but details remained "sparse and conflicting".
The UN's special coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, said on Twitter: "A quick & thorough investigation to determine the facts of this tragic incident is crucial."
Lebanon's caretaker premier, Najib Mikati, urged all parties to "show wisdom and patience". The Lebanese army offered its condolences but did not give additional details.
In Al-Aqbieh on Thursday, Reuters saw a UNIFIL vehicle crashed into a shop and flipped onto its side. The army had cordoned off the area.
The convoy had been carrying eight personnel and was travelling to Beirut as two of the members were returning to Ireland on compassionate leave following the death of family members, Irish defence forces chief of staff Seán Clancy told RTÉ.
The second soldier remains in a critical condition, Clancy said, while the two other soldiers in the vehicle were being treated for minor injuries. Four personnel from the other vehicle were not injured, he added.
Mr Coveney, who is in New York for a UN Security Council meeting, said he will meet UN secretary General António Guterres later on Thursday to discuss the incident.
Earlier, Mr Coveney confirmed the families of the deceased and injured soldiers were informed of the incident between 2am and 5am on Thursday.
The Minister said it was not news that any family wanted to hear, but the decision was taken to make the visits in the early hours of the morning ahead of social media posts.
When asked about clips which were already being shared online, Mr Coveney said he did not know what had been verified, so it was important that a full and proper investigation be carried out.
"It is with deep regret that Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm the death of one of our peacekeepers in a serious incident in Lebanon last night," the army said in a brief statement, published on Twitter.
A full investigation will be carried out into the incident, the army said.
It is with deep regret that Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm the death of one of our peacekeepers in a serious incident in Lebanon last night.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/YrnFOVBjkV
— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) December 15, 2022
In a statement, President Michael D Higgins said it was with "deep sorrow" that he learned of the news.
"As a people, we take great pride in our unbroken record of peacekeeping with the United Nations. However, we must never forget the dangers that come with this work, or how the members of our Defence Forces serving on peacekeeping missions abroad risk their lives every day in order to build and maintain peace in conflict zones across the world.
"As President of Ireland and Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, it is with a heavy heart, and conscious of the great loss it will represent to them, that I offer my deepest condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the member of the Defence Forces who has lost their life. A life lost serving the people of Ireland, serving the United Nations, and serving all those wishing for peace in our shared world.
"May I also wish a speedy recovery to those other members of the Defence Forces injured in the incident. Our thoughts are with them at this time," he said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed "heartfelt sorrow" following the loss of "a young person serving overseas".
