A rocket hit an Irish peacekeeping facility situated in southern Lebanon, known as Camp Shamrock, on Wednesday afternoon. Despite having hundreds of servicemen located there, not far from the Israeli border, no casualties were reported from the incident.
Irish Defence Force’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, verified the missile strike the following Thursday morning. According to him, preliminary inspections of the weapon’s residue suggest it was a Katyusha rocket, an unguided ammunition, mostly used by the militant group Hizbullah operating in Lebanon. The rocket was launched from the north, aiming at Israel.
An investigation is underway to confirm whether the missile may have been thwarted and shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system prior to its landing at the Irish base. The Irish troops, operating under a “level 2” security level, were restricted in their movement and wore body armour. Once the missile hit, they sought refuge in bunkers, following a protocol referred to as going to groundhog.
Clancy stated that the missile was launched by militant forces operating in that area, emphasising that such rockets are generally unguided, erratic, and known to frequently misfire. The damage at the site was reported to be insignificant and the area has been made secure by ordinance specialists. The Chief of Staff asserted that all the peacekeeping personnel were safe and unharmed.
Since the commencement of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon a month prior, Unifil bases have experienced over 30 attacks. Israeli Defence Forces are believed to be responsible for approximately two-thirds of those assaults, with seven being reportedly deliberate, according to Unifil spokesman, Andrea Tenenti. Despite frequent demands from Israel for Unifil to vacate particular bases along the border, Unifil has stood firm with its refusal to abandon those locations.
Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste and Head of Defence stated that the recent rocket attack underlines the extreme dangers confronted by the Irish troops. “Nowadays the environment is significantly more challenging than it used to be, which is why we’re advocating for calm and containment in this area,” he added.
The Taoiseach’s spokesperson announced that he has been kept up to date throughout the night regarding the state of affairs at Camp Shamrock. “It’s a relief that all persons are safe, however, it’s utterly intolerable that such an incident took place. Peacekeepers are shielded by international law and it’s the responsibility of all parties to guarantee that protection. We are keeping a close eye on the unfolding situation,” he stated.