Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
SDF announces the killing of three of its members as a result of ISIS cells detonating a landmine targeting a vehicle of a security patrol on the Hasaka-Raqqa road
The Popular Resistance Committees: We call on all international institutions to take urgent action and uphold their responsibilities by restoring and immediately enforcing effective mechanisms for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
The Popular Resistance Committees: The latest Zio-American crime against Gaza’s starving civilians constitutes a war crime, for which the US administration bears full and direct responsibility.
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.

Lebanon: UNIFIL incident leaves 1 dead, investigation underway

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
  • 15 Dec 2022 16:09
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

UNIFIL and the Irish Defense Forces announce the death of a soldier from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon after a two-vehicle convoy was involved in a traffic accident.

  • x
  • UNIFIL incident leave one dead and several wounded
    The UNIFIL incident leaves one dead and several wounded

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Beirut reported that a UNIFIL vehicle was involved in a traffic accident at night in the town of Al-Aqibiya, near Sidon after the people of the town protested against the convoy straying far from its route.

Our correspondent added, "The accident resulted in the vehicle overturning and the injury of 4 UNIFIL members, who were then transferred to Hammoud Hospital in Sidon," stressing that "UNIFIL personnel fired live bullets in the air in response to the protest of the people."

For its part, UNIFIL announced, in a statement, the death of one of its members and the injury of others in an "incident south of Beirut, the details of which are still conflicted," noting that it is "coordinating with the Lebanese army," and has "launched an investigation to determine what happened specifically in the town of Al-Aqibiya."

Furthermore, the Irish Defense Forces. on their end, announced in a statement that "an Irish soldier from the United Nations peacekeeping mission was killed in Lebanon late yesterday evening, Wednesday," adding that the soldier "was killed when the convoy of two armored vehicles came under small arms fire."

The statement also noted that "the two vehicles, which were carrying eight soldiers, were heading to Beirut."

The condition of another member of the Irish peacekeeping mission "is serious," although he underwent surgery after the incident. The other two soldiers "are receiving treatment after suffering minor injuries."

The narrative as reported

The Lebanese newspaper, Al-Akhbar, noted that "young men from the region tracked down the vehicle that took the sea route, contrary to the custom that requires UNIFIL convoys to take the highway."

The report read, "The vehicle's passage late and outside the area south of the Litani River at a great distance angered the young men who tried to stop it, but the driver refused to stop and ran over one of the young men's legs, which caused anger among the crowds that surrounded the vehicle."

Moreover, said the report, "At that time, gunfire was recorded, the source of which was not specified, which increased the crowd's anger and prompted the driver to drive through them as fast as possible, before crashing into one of the shops adjacent to the road."

The video clips shared on social media showed the young men trying to rescue the soldiers before members of the Civil Defense came to retrieve the body of the driver.

The Lebanese army and a team from UNIFIL attended to investigate the accident, and according to Al-Akhbar, the investigation will focus on addressing the surviving soldiers regarding the reasoning behind why they passed in this area on their way to Beirut and why they did not follow through with the convoy that did take the highway route.

Lebanese officials comment on the incident

Lebanese PM Najib Mikati said, "We call on all sides to act wisely and patiently during this critical stage." While the Lebanese Foreign Ministry stressed "the importance of preserving the security of the UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon."

Reuters reported that a Senior Hezbollah official, Wafiq Safa, said the "unintentional incident" led to the Irish soldier's death and stressed that Hezbollah is not involved in this incident whatsoever.

Safa explained that Hezbollah offers its condolences "after the unintentional incident that took place between the residents of al-Aqibiya and individuals from the Irish peacekeeping unit."

To conclude, Safa urged that Hezbollah not be "inserted" into the incident, reaffirming that the political party was uninvolved in the tragic incident.

Read more: UNIFIL: Nothing changed in mission's mandate in South Lebanon

  • Irish peacekeeping mission
  • UNIFIL
  • Irish Defense Forces
  • Lebanon

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS