The Lebanese army has taken it upon itself to investigate the shooting incident in which an Irish UNIFIL soldier was killed yesterday, so reported this morning (Friday) the newspaper "Al-Akhbar" close to the terrorist organization.
At the same time, Hezbollah is also investigating the circumstances of the incident. Last night a senior member of the organization denied involvement in the incident In the unusual event that occurred in southern Lebanon, the UNIFIL force, whose role is to maintain peace in the border area with Israel, was damaged.
In the incident, the soldier Sean Rooney, 27 years old from Ireland, was killed, and three others were injured.
In the meantime, Lebanese media reported that Hizbollah yesterday arrested some of its operatives who were present at the scene of the incident in al-Aqabiya and interrogated them to find out the circumstances.
A Western military official, whose soldiers from his country participate in UNIFIL, told the newspaper that the incident was the result of a series of unintentional mistakes by all those involved. It was also reported that the embassies of Germany, France, Spain and others held talks in an attempt to be updated on Hezbollah's position. At the same time, the intelligence of the Lebanese army managed Contacts with UNIFIL command to clarify the situation for all parties.
Now everyone is waiting for the investigation of the injured from the incident.
UNIFIL forces on patrol in Lebanese territory. Archive, photo: E.P
Assessment: the vehicles deviated from the track
According to information received by "Al-Akhbar" from various security sources, the following picture was received: two UNIFIL armored personnel carriers from the force's area of activity south of the Litani River traveled to the Beirut airport. Soldiers in the convoy were supposed to leave the country as part of periodic exchanges. A party Unknown, the two vehicles from the convoy deviated from the normal route on the international road to a side road in the village of Al-Aqabiya, an area outside the international force's scope of activity.
Residents of the village noticed the vehicles on the spot, blocked them and demanded that they retreat and return to the international road.
The vehicles nevertheless tried to move between the residents and at the time hit the resident and several cars.
As a result, a riot broke out, UNIFIL members tried to escape and at that moment fire was opened on them, which killed one of them and caused the vehicle to overturn.
Shawn Rooney, a UNIFIL soldier who was killed in an incident in southern Lebanon,
The newspaper stated that it has not yet been definitively determined whether the Irish soldier died from the shooting or from the accident.
A Lebanese security official confirmed that the convoy apparently crossed into an area that is not in its territory, a situation that creates a sensitive situation at the border.
Sources among the international forces also said that it appears that the vehicle lost its way.
According to them, the soldiers were frightened and when they tried to escape they hit one of the people, which provoked anger and led to a shooting.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
