LEBANON: Israeli drones dropped grenades near a base belonging to Irish peacekeepers in South Lebanon, according to a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The incident occurred near the Irish outpost designated as UNP 6-52 in the area of Maroun ar-Ras. The attack involved military drones dropping grenades near the peacekeepers’ location. Crucially, no injuries were reported among the Irish Defence Forces personnel or local civilians.
The event took place while Irish soldiers were assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces and local residents in clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) and recovering bodies from bomb-damaged buildings across South Lebanon.
UNIFIL stated that the first grenades exploded approximately 500 metres from the peacekeepers. However, a subsequent and more serious escalation occurred when a swarm of drones flew directly overhead:
- The second set of grenades exploded at a distance of approximately 30–40 metres from the troops.
- A third wave of drone-dropped grenades arrived about 20 minutes later, exploding only 20 metres above the peacekeepers’ heads.
UNIFIL confirmed that the Irish forces had provided prior notification to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) regarding their operations in the area. Following the incident, UNIFIL immediately contacted the Israeli forces, demanding an immediate halt to the firing.
The UN mission condemned the actions, stating that attacks and hostile activities directed against peacekeepers constitute a serious violation of the Security Council Resolution governing their mandate.
The Irish Defence Forces released a statement confirming that all Irish military personnel in Lebanon were safe and accounted for. “The members of the 126th Infantry Battalion serving in the IrishPolBatt operations area were involved in an incident near Maroun ar-Ras. No injuries were sustained, and the troops operated effectively to carry out their mission,” the statement clarified.
The Irish peacekeepers are currently serving alongside Polish soldiers as part of the IrishPolBatt. This incident comes amidst speculation regarding the future of the UNIFIL mission, as reports suggest Israel is currently pressuring the United States to veto the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate at the UN Security Council, potentially leading to the mission’s conclusion in 2027.
