Irish battalion safe after coming under fire in south Lebanon

All members of an Irish Defence Forces battalion "are well and accounted for" after they came under "small arms fire" in south Lebanon.

The incident happened at about 18:30 Ireland time (20:30 Lebanon time) on Thursday.

A Defence Forces spokesperson said the 127 Infantry Battalion had been conducting a patrol.

Irish Defence Minister Helen McEntee said: "This incident constitutes a direct and unacceptable breach of the UN Security Council Resolution."

The battalion is part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) in the south of the country.

Unifil is a peacekeeping mission which was created in 1978 to monitor hostilities and help ensure humanitarian access to civilians.

The spokesperson added: "Defence Forces personnel initiated immediate action drills and their actions and force protection measures as well as the armoured capabilities of the vehicles they were conducting the patrol in ensured the safety of all troops."

They said they will "continue to enact the Unifil mandate by monitoring and reporting on the situation in southern Lebanon".

They condemned any attacks on peacekeepers.

Unifil said in a statement that "peacekeepers on patrol were approached by six men on three mopeds near Bint Jbeil, with one man firing approximately three shots into the back of the vehicle".

"Attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable and serious violations of resolution 1701. We remind the Lebanese authorities of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers, and demand a full and immediate investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice," the statement added.

In a statement, Irish Defence Minister Helen McEntee condemned the incident near Bint Jbeil.

"I have been fully briefed by the chief of staff, and I want to commend the personnel involved for their professionalism in extremely challenging circumstances. I am particularly relieved that all members of the patrol returned safely to base," she said.

"Defence Forces personnel continue to play a vital role in South Lebanon, and their commitment and conduct remain of the highest standard."

Ireland currently has more than 300 peacekeepers stationed at its military base in south Lebanon, known as Camp Shamrock.

In August it was confirmed that the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Lebanon is set to come to an end in 2027.