Ireland Condemns Israeli Fire Near Peacekeepers in Lebanon

Ireland formally protests to Israel after troops fire near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. The Irish government has issued a strong condemnation following an incident on Thursday where Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) opened fire near a joint unit of Irish and Lebanese peacekeepers in the Lebanese village of Yaroun. The incident, which involved a peacekeeping mission under a UN mandate, prompted a formal protest letter submitted by Ireland through the United Nations. The letter, described as a 'demarche,' constitutes a diplomatic rebuke. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated that the actions of the IDF were "reckless, intimidatory and totally unacceptable," adding that they represented a "clear breach of international rules." The Irish Defence Forces have also expressed serious concern about the incident. The incident underscores escalating regional tensions and highlights the risks faced by international peacekeeping forces in volatile regions.