Personal Seán Rooney death: Irish soldier killed in Lebanon

An Irish soldier serving as a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon was killed following his car or truck was surrounded and shot at by a mob as he was escorting troopers property to Ireland after the loss of life of their kin. 

Personal Seán Rooney from Donegal, aspect of the 27 Infantry Battalion in Dundalk, was killed last evening in a convoy in Al-Aqbieh that was en route to Beirut. 

The 23-12 months-aged died and a further soldier, Non-public Shane Kearney, from Cork, was hurt and is in a serious problem in medical center, getting been through surgery. 

Their convoy was attacked as it was carrying eight individuals. Two have been about to fly residence for spouse and children funerals, reported the Unbiased Eire.  

Non-public Seán Rooney from Donegal, element of the 27 Infantry Battalion in Dundalk, was killed previous night in a convoy in Al-Aqbieh that was en route to Beirut

His motor vehicle was surrounded and shot at by a mob as he was escorting soldiers household to Eire soon after the demise of their family members. Pictured: the scene

Rooney endured fatal accidents and was pronounced lifeless on arrival at the hospital. Two other peacekeepers have been treated for minor accidents.

The soldiers have been portion of 121st Infantry Battalion, which comprises 333 Irish troopers, that was deployed in November 2022 to South Lebanon as component of UNIFIL (United Country Interim Force in Lebanon).

The convoy of two armoured cars en route to Beirut came below little arms hearth at all around 9.15pm on Wednesday night.

Simon Coveney, Ireland’s overseas minister, said it was thought of a common run from UNIFIL’s region of operations in south Lebanon to Beirut. 

He said the automobiles became separated and just one was surrounded by a hostile mob and shots were fired in the ‘unexpected’ assault.  

All four troopers injured in the assault were being taken to Raee Clinic, in the vicinity of Sidon, adhering to the incident.

4 other troopers in the convoy ended up unhurt in the attack. 

Coveney stated the soldier is ‘a young gentleman who has dropped his everyday living in company of Eire and of the UN’.

‘This is a stunning and tragic incident and of study course we have an investigation below way,’ he claimed, expressing his condolences to the man’s relatives and family of the other soldiers.

Mr Coveney mentioned the incident happened for the duration of a two-and-a-half-hour journey to the UN peacekeeping camp in Lebanon.

‘Essentially what took place, we feel, was two armoured personnel vehicles were travelling from our primary camp in southern Lebanon to Beirut. It was a common administrative operate, as it can be named in military terms,’ he advised RTE Radio.

The convoy of two armoured vehicles en route to Beirut arrived underneath little arms hearth at around 9.15pm on Wednesday night time

Simon Coveney, Ireland’s foreign minister, mentioned it was regarded as a normal operate from UNIFIL’s area of functions in south Lebanon to Beirut (pictured on December 12)

 Mr Coveney claimed the incident transpired during a two-and-a-50 %-hour journey to the UN peacekeeping camp in Lebanon. Pictured: the scene

‘And the two armoured automobiles efficiently obtained separated. 1 of them received surrounded by a hostile mob – I believe that’s the only way you could explain them – and shots were fired and sad to say just one of our peacekeepers was killed.

‘This is a very significant incident. We haven’t experienced a fatality in the Defence Forces on peacekeeping missions for around two many years.’

‘This is the worst achievable news that a spouse and children could listen to,’ he reported, stating the households influenced were being knowledgeable involving 2-5am Irish time.

‘It’s just shocking, just right before Christmas in unique, in terms of the time of calendar year, but it can be stunning to ever lose somebody who is serving their country abroad as a peacekeeper.’

Mr Coveney, who is currently in New York for a UN Protection Council meeting, stated he intends to meet up with UN Secretary-Standard Antonio Guterres to go over a ‘full investigation’ into the incident.

‘I will return to Ireland this evening right after I satisfy with the UN Secretary-General to go over the reduction of our peacekeeper and the total investigation that have to now stick to,’ he mentioned.

Hezbollah is a effective armed team and a heavyweight political party with considerable help in the country’s south.

UNIFIL has operated in Lebanon considering the fact that 1978 to maintain peace along its border with Israel to the south. It was expanded after a U.N. resolution that halted the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah on Thursday offered its condolences and mentioned it was not concerned.

The 121st Infantry Battalion is element of a multinational battalion, comprising Irish, Maltese, Polish and Hungarian staff.

The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon was founded in 1978 subsequent Israel’s invasion of the state.

Irish President Michael D Higgins available his ‘deepest condolences’ to the relatives of the useless soldier.

‘As President of Eire and Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, it is with a heavy heart, and aware of the great loss it will characterize to them, that I offer my deepest condolences to the household, colleagues and friends of the member of the Defence Forces who has misplaced their existence,’ he mentioned.

‘A lifetime shed serving the folks of Ireland, serving the United Nations, and serving all all those wishing for peace in our shared earth.’

Irish leading Micheal Martin expressed the heartfelt sympathies of the Irish federal government

The motor vehicles grew to become divided and a single was surrounded by a hostile mob and photographs ended up fired in the ‘unexpected’ attack

Irish leading Micheal Martin claimed: ‘It is with a deep perception of sadness and shock that I have discovered of the dying of one of our Unifil peacekeepers, and significant injuries to one more, in an incident in Lebanon.

‘I want to specific the heartfelt sorrow of the Federal government of Ireland at the loss of a young particular person serving overseas with the United Nations.

‘In distinct, I extend to his loved ones our deepest sympathies for the terrible loss they have suffered.

‘It is a reminder that our peacekeepers provide in risky situations, at all moments, in the trigger of peace.

‘Our thoughts are with his colleagues, and to the broader Defence Forces household and all who serve overseas, we know how deeply you will really feel this decline.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with you.’

Political figures in Eire also presented their thoughts and prayers, as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald reacted to the ‘deeply surprising news’ and labour leader Ivana Bacik mentioned the demise was ‘horrific’.