Irish peacekeepers escape injuries after Lebanon camp hit by rocket

A military camp in southern Lebanon where Irish peacekeepers are stationed has been hit by a missile, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defense Forces said.

Lt. Gen. Sean Clancy said all troops at Camp Shamrock are safe and sound at the time of the attack on Wednesday afternoon, while the Katyusha rocket landed in an unoccupied area of ​​the base.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris described the incident as “extremely serious”.

Lt. Gen. Clancy said the rocket was traveling from north to south, toward Israel, when it landed.

He said it is unclear whether it fell or was brought down by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

Camp Shamrock, known as United Nations Post 2-45, is located a short distance from the Israeli border and close to areas controlled by Hezbollah militants.

There are currently approximately 350 soldiers deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) carrying out peacekeeping duties.

Lt Gen Clancy confirmed the incident at a Defense Forces event in Co Westmeath on Thursday, saying the missile had caused minimal damage.

He said: “I can confirm that yesterday afternoon there was a Katyusha missile that landed within 2-45 hours, this was obviously by an armed element, our assessment is that it flew from north to south into Israel.

“Many of these are untargeted, unguided and therefore unpredictable missiles, and have been known to fall or be downed by the Iron Dome. We have not yet assessed which or whether this is the case.

“But it did fall in an unoccupied part of the camp itself. It caused minimal damage to the ground.”

He said bomb squad officials cordoned off the area Wednesday night and filled the ground before making the device safe Thursday morning.

“All personnel are safe and well, and of course force protection is a priority for us and all the precautions that we are taking and have taken, which are working quite well, have worked effectively on this occasion,” the chief of staff added.

Lieutenant General Clancy and Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Michael Martin took part in a military event at Custume Barracks in Athlone on Thursday for members of the 125th Armed Forces Battalion as they prepare to take over their counterparts in Lebanon when Irish troops are then rotated on peacekeeping duties.

Taoiseach Harris said he was grateful no one was injured in the rocket attack.

“As far as Camp Shamrock is concerned, I was kept informed about it last night and even today,” he told reporters in Co Kildare on Thursday.

“This is an extremely serious situation, when it appears that what’s happening is this – a missile was fired, that missile was brought down by what they call the Iron Dome, and part of that missile then fell, fortunately , an unoccupied part of Camp Shamrock, home to our Irish peacekeepers, and fortunately no one was hurt or injured, and fortunately all our peacekeepers are safe, and that’s a good thing.”

Mr Harris said there is an obligation in international law to protect and not attack peacekeepers.

“What we have seen on many occasions in recent days during the UNIFIL mission, and what we saw yesterday in relation to Camp Shamrock, is a situation where even if peacekeepers are not actively attacked, sufficient steps are certainly not being taken. taken to protect them,” he said.

“Therefore, I really reiterate my call regarding the need for people to respect international law and to respect the specific protections afforded to peacekeepers in connection therewith.”