Plans are in place to withdraw UN peacekeepers, including Irish soldiers, from Lebanon if the threat to their safety increases.
As Israel launched another attack on Beirut, killing at least 22 people, There has been widespread condemnation of Israel for its attacks on UN peacekeepers in recent days.
Yesterday morning an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Merkava tank fired at an observation tower at Unifil’s headquarters in Naqoura, south Lebanon.
The watchtower was hit and two soldiers were injured after they fell trying to escape the barrage. The soldiers are expected to make a full recovery.
Six Irish Defence Forces personnel were at Unifil HQ at the time of the attack, but were unharmed.
In a statement yesterday, Unifil detailed three separate attacks on UN troops in recent days, culminating in a direct hit to the observation post manned by the two peacekeepers.
A UN source described the development as deeply concerning and told the Irish Independent that plans were in place to withdraw peacekeepers if the situation deteriorated.
We do have plans that are ready if we need to do that, but we are not there yet. We are committed to remaining
“We have reiterated strongly to the IDF that they have their responsibilities to protect peacekeepers,” the source said.
“We don’t have any intention of doing that (withdrawing) now, but we have plans in place for different scenarios.”
The source said plans that can be activated if the safety of Unifil soldiers is further compromised include “reducing the footprint” of the mission in Lebanon and evacuating civilians.
“All the way down to withdrawing the mission,” they said. “So we do have plans that are ready if we need to do that, but we are not there yet. We are committed to remaining.”
What is Unifil and why are Irish troops involved with peacekeeping in Lebanon?
Senator Tom Clonan, a retired Irish Army captain, has said the coming weeks will be “dangerous” for Irish troops in Lebanon but that their presence is saving the lives of Lebanese people who were unable to flee.
Mr Clonan believes there will be a further deterioration of the situation in Lebanon, but that Irish troops at UN Post 6-52 continue to fulfil their observation duties in witnessing Israel’s actions.
“There’s another position, 6-50, which we haven’t really been talking about because it is mostly Polish troops in that position at a little village called Yaroun. It’s not far from where the other Irish position is on the border – and the village of Yaroun has been completely destroyed by the Israelis,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
Mr Clonan said Lebanon is “matching precisely” the casualty rate which was experienced in Gaza and it is the beginning of the Israeli “ground incursion”, believing the Israeli Defence Forces will “exploit the window of opportunity” opened by the US presidential election and troops will be moved as far north as possible.
“For the Irish troops, this is going to be a very dangerous moment. I know that the Israeli tanks that moved away from 6-52, some commentators welcomed this and felt it was a signal of greater safety for those troops but in fact, it isn’t,” he said, adding that the Israeli Defence Forces moved north as part of their advance.
“In the past, the Israelis have shown no distinction, certainly in Gaza, between Palestinians and Hamas, they’re showing no distinction between ordinary Lebanese civilians, as we saw in Beirut… and they will not draw a distinction between Hezbollah and the UN,” he said.
“I would say to the families of the troops listening, they are the eyes and ears of the international community and while they can’t stop what Israel is doing, they certainly inhibit them and it is saving lives because not all Lebanese can flee the area.
“I know from my experience, the elderly, disabled, young mothers whose husbands are maybe working in Africa or elsewhere (who) can’t leave unaccompanied and you see young women becoming dehydrated, trying to breastfeed their babies, they are the people who are stuck behind in villages and they are the people that our Irish troops are protecting.”
Mr Clonan said that Irish troops have “never looked away”, adding that all those waiting to rotate and relieve the troops in Lebanon will want to do so.
“Questions will have to be asked about the viability of the mission If it deteriorates into a full-on ground assault by Israeli troops, which I think is going to happen,” he said, adding that Israel has “breached all of the laws of armed conflict in Gaza”.
The Defence Forces said last night all Irish personnel are safe and accounted for “amid ongoing tensions along the Blue Line, where the situation is most intense”.
“We extend our thoughts to our UN colleagues in these areas as they continue to operate in this challenging environment,” a spokesperson said.
“All necessary force protection measures are being strictly observed by all Irish personnel, and we can confirm that Irish positions have not faced incoming fire.
“The safety of our personnel remains the top priority as the situation evolves.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris speaks to the media in Washington. Photo: PA
Taoiseach Simon Harris condemned the series of IDF strikes on peacekeepers.
Speaking on his visit to Washington, the Taoiseach accused Israel of an flagrant breach of international law.
“While I note that no Irish troops were caught up in this situation, that’s not the point,” Mr Harris said.
“The point of the matter is there’s clear international law around the issue of peacekeeping.
“When you have the United Nations and Unifil specifically using the phrase ‘deliberately fired on’, that is an extremely egregious breach of international law, and we will continue to protest that, along with all countries.
“Everybody, any right-thinking person in the world, wants to see a ceasefire. There is no doubt about that at all.
“But I also know the efforts of the world to date to bring about a ceasefire have been ineffective, and therefore that should keep all of us awake at night.”
They were in bunkers for a lot of yesterday, last night and again this morning, but he said they are doing well
A mother of a serving soldier in Lebanon told the Irish Independent of her shock at hearing about the attack on the peacekeepers.
“An alert came up on my phone that Israel had opened fire on UN troops,” she said. “There was a horrible few minutes where we just didn’t know what was going on, but thankfully the news was good.
“But you do worry that this could be the start of something worse. We are more relaxed the last few days and so was our son, he was in better form.
“We spoke to him today and he said he wasn’t surprised at all about what happened (the IDF attacks on Unifil).
“They were in bunkers for a lot of yesterday, last night and again this morning, but he said they are doing well.”
The Irish Defence Forces last night said its personnel are safe and morale is good within the camp and at the outposts.
People gather in front of a destroyed building hit by an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut. Photo: AP
Tánaiste Micheál Martin also condemned the attacks and said plans for the rotation of Irish troops scheduled for next month continue, but that this is under active review.
The White House said last night it was “deeply concerned” about the reports of the Israeli attacks.
“We reached out immediately to our Israeli counterparts about it, and pressed them for more details,” a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said in a statement.
“It is critical that they not threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security.”
International pressure also came from France, which said it was waiting for explanations from Israel, which has an obligation to ensure the safety of UN peacekeeping troops.
“France expresses its deep concern following the Israeli shots that hit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and condemns any attack on the security of Unifil,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that none of its 700 troops in the mission had been wounded.
“We await explanations from the Israeli authorities. The protection of peacekeepers is an obligation that applies to all parties to a conflict.”
People conduct search and rescue works around the demolished apartment building aftermath of Israeli attack on the Nowayri neighborhood of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Photo: Getty
The Italian defence minister also reacted with anger at the attack, saying Israeli forces had acted illegally by shooting at positions used by UN peacekeepers.
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto denounced the assault as a possible war crime.
“This was not a mistake and not an accident,” Mr Crosetto told a news conference. “It could constitute a war crime, and represented a very serious violation of international military law.”
Mr Crosetto said he had contacted his Israeli counterpart to protest and had also summonsed the Israeli ambassador to Italy to demand an explanation, which was not yet forthcoming.
Unlike some European countries, Italy has been highly supportive of Israel throughout its year-long war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, after which the forces opened fire in the area
Italy has traditionally supplied a large number of troops to Unifil, and although none of its contingent was injured this week, Mr Crosetto said the Israeli actions would not be accepted. Israel has sought to shift the Unifil peacekeepers away from the border, but Italy said it had no right to do so.
“I told the ambassador to tell the Israeli government that the United Nations and Italy cannot take orders from the Israeli government,” Mr Crosetto said.
A child is brought to hospital after last night’s Israeli attack on Beirut. Photo: Getty
Turkey also condemned Israel’s attacks targeting the U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, its foreign ministry said late on Thursday, adding Ankara would continue supporting similar peacekeeping initiatives and structures.
Israeli attacks against Unifil in recent days, amid the war in Gaza and the cross-border clashes with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, have wounded U.N. personnel and prompted international alarm.
In New York, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel recommends Unifil relocate north in Lebanon “to avoid danger as fighting intensifies”.
“Israel’s attacks on UN forces, following its massacres against civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon is a manifestation of its perception that its crimes go unpunished,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The international community is obliged to ensure that Israel abides by international law,” it said, adding that Turkey contributed to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force with one corvette and five personnel.
Turkey has been fiercely critical of Israel’s offensives in Gaza and Lebanon. It has halted all trade with Israel, applied to join a genocide case against Israel at the World Court, and repeatedly called for an end to Western support of Israel along with international measures to stop its assaults.
In a post on X last night, the IDF said: “Hezbollah operates from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near Unifil posts.
“The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with Unifil. IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a Unifil base. Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, after which the forces opened fire in the area.”
Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon called on peacekeepers to relocate from their positions along the Blue Line, the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel.
“Our recommendation is that Unifil relocate 5km north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies and while the situation along the Blue Line remains volatile as a result of Hezbollah’s aggression,” he said in a statement.