Video clips published by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reveal how Irish peacekeepers narrowly evaded the shockwave of an airstrike in the south of Lebanon. The Irish Government and defence representatives have expressed their conviction that the footage presents a drone attack by Israeli forces on the village of Hanine, an area under the surveillance of Irish soldiers who are part of the Unifil peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
Damage was reported to two armoured utility vehicles (AUVs) transporting six Irish and two Polish peacekeepers following a significant explosion on Saturday, with no reported casualties. It’s predicted that Irish officials will seek clarification as to whether Israeli forces were aware of the presence of Unifil peacekeepers in the vicinity.
Typically, the UN would share details of its patrols in advance with armed factions in the region, such as the IDF, Hizbullah and the Lebanese Armed Forces. It is believed that Unifil is on the verge of initiating an inquiry into the incident.
IDF’s official Telegram Channel shared a clip of a building being annihilated by a large blast, with an accompanying description declaring the building as a Hizbullah military site in the Hanine region. Several strikes on regions including Hanine, Ayta ash Shab, Khiam, and Blida located in southern Lebanon targeted Hizbullah military sites and an arms storage facility, as stated by the IDF.
Post-explosion, two vehicles were spotted moving away from the explosion’s origin point, which Irish sources believe to have housed the Irish and Polish troops. In recent times, Israel and Hizbullah have seen escalated tension, exchanging artillery, rocket, and drone strikes, sparking fears of a severe border conflict. Under international law, all involved armed parties are mandated to steer clear of targeting peacekeepers or compromising their safety amidst hostilities.
On Monday, enquiries were initiated by the Israeli embassy in Dublin regarding an incident that occurred in Hanine. A spokesperson for the embassy acknowledged that for the past ten months, Hizbullah has been the source of persistent attacks on Israel, resulting in the displacement of around 100,000 individuals and jeopardising the safety of Unifil soldiers stationed in Lebanon. According to them, Israel has on multiple occasions urged the global community to intervene and put an end to Hizbullah’s hostile activities.
The specific incident under investigation was an attack that took place as UN vehicles, resembling civilian SUVs but fortified with heavy armour and double-layered, bulletproof glass, were on a routine patrol within their jurisdiction in Sector West of the Unifil mission area. Shrapnel from the explosion damaged the outer layer of the vehicles, though the interior armour remained intact, as per a source.
In the aftermath of the attack, Irish soldiers, stationed in Lebanon where roughly 300 Irish troops are based; adhered to established procedures, vacating the danger zone, reporting the incident, and subsequently returning to base. The UN vehicles used in this operation were clearly identifiable by their standard UN insignia, including markings located on the vehicle roofs.
The Irish Government has yet to officially accuse Israel of orchestrating this strike. However, Tánaiste Micheál Martin hinted on Sunday that the Government does have suspicions regarding the responsible party. He stated that a Defence Forces investigation would be carried out to definitively identify the culprits. Martin also emphasised that both the Israeli Defence Forces and Hizbullah must uphold their commitment to the peacekeepers, citing the protection of soldiers as a top priority amidst the ongoing peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon.