Tánaiste Simon Harris deemed a shooting incident near Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon as "deeply worrying," stating it underscores the dangers faced by Defence Forces on their mission. The Irish military confirmed all personnel were unharmed during the gunfire, which occurred near Yaroun as part of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (Unifil). On International UN Peacekeepers' Day, Harris reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to Unifil, which has involved 30,000 Irish personnel since 1978, and noted the significance of maintaining peace amid regional instability.
"While I am very pleased to report that all personnel are safe and well, the fact they came under fire while on patrol is deeply worrying," he said.
"Today's incident illustrates the dangers our peacekeepers face every single day while on a patrol in a region that has been increasingly unstable and volatile."
"Ireland is proud to have been part of the Unifil mission since 1978 - 30,000 personnel have served there to date," he said.
"We are deeply committed to this vital mission, one that supports peace, delivers stability and protects the communities in southern Lebanon."
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