MADRID, December 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a “rapid investigation” into the “incident” in which an Irish “blue helmet” was killed on Wednesday while deployed by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
He thus stressed the need for “accountability” and showed his “deep sadness” at the event in which, according to his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, three other “blue helmets” were injured, including one in critical condition.
On the other hand, he has offered his condolences to the victim’s family and the Irish Government, while showing his “deep appreciation” to all members of UNIFIL. “Guterres recalls the importance of ensuring their safety and the freedom of movement of UNIFIL,” he stressed.
The Irish Armed Forces explained in detail that the event took place when unidentified people fired short guns at two armored vehicles transporting eight soldiers to the capital, Beirut. “A full investigation into this incident is underway,” they reported.
They were joined by Lebanese Prime Minister Nayib Mikati and Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Slim. For his part, the head of coordination of the Shia party militia Hezbollah, Uafiq Safa, pointed out that the event was not “premeditious” and disconnected the group from the events.
UNIFIL was deployed to the country in 1978 and reestablished after the 2006 conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shia militia party Hezbollah, which lasted just over a month and killed about 1,200 people in Lebanon – the majority civilians – and 160 Israelis – most soldiers – as well as significant property damage in the Arab country.
Resolution 1701 calls for an end to the conflict, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon and the deployment of Lebanese forces and UNIFIL itself in the south of the country. It also considers the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and that there are no other forces outside of UNIFIL and Lebanon south of the Litani River, which includes both Israel and the Lebanese party militia.