Targeting of UNIFIL 'unacceptable', says Irish commander

The targeting and injuring of United Nations soldiers is "totally unacceptable", the commander of Irish peacekeepers in south Lebanon has said.

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Fox was speaking after an UN soldier was injured in gunfire in southwest Lebanon, close to the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura.

Five UN peacekeepers have been injured since Israel entered Lebanon in an escalation of its conflict with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Lt Col Fox told RTÉ's This Week programme that all Irish soldiers are safe and well, however he said they have been working in a "challenging operational environment" for the last three weeks.

"IDF operations are ongoing."

"The targeting and injuring of UN peacekeepers is totally unacceptable, and as a commander I am always aware of the dangers of peacekeeping, but I have ensured that adequate force protection measures are in place to ensure the safety of my peacekeepers."

He added morale among the Irish troops is good.

"It has been challenging. I am not going to deny that. Our troops are well trained, they are professional, their mental and physical resilience has been tested, but they have stood up to that test, and they are solely focused on remaining and getting the job done."

Last week Israeli soldiers took up positions close to an outpost UNP 6-52 - which is manned by 30 Irish troops close to the blue line. The move was the focus of international attention and criticism.

Lt Col Fox said the Israeli Defence Forces have moved on from that position.

"I’m happy to report that there is no IDF presence or activity at that post for the last four days. The post continues to monitor and report on all activity that they are seeing, but it is very, very quiet in that area of responsibility."

He said it has not been possible to resupply the post with fresh rations or troops.

"Unfortunately we haven't been able to resupply the post at this time but there are plans in place to put in place route clearance to resupply the post with rations and personnel.

"We are well accustomed to route clearance. We have experience in doing that."

He said the soldiers at the outpost were safe and were in good spirits despite the recent activity.

"The troops are well, they are good, the morale is high. It has been extremely challenging for them, but a challenge they have stood up to. They were not found wanting, they provided accurate reports and timely information on the ground in line with what the mandate asked them to do."

Lt Col Fox said soldiers in south Lebanon have had to take to bunkers on several occasions, "however, we continue to conduct our role of observing, monitoring and reporting while we are in bunkers," he said.

He said he wanted to reassure the families of the troops that all Irish personnel were safe, well and protected.

Asked whether he believed there was still a justification for continuing with the mission in south Lebanon in circumstances where it is not possible to keep the peace, Lt Col Fox said there was a justification the mission "now more than ever".

He said UN troops have been able to provide accurate reports on the ground since the conflict in south Lebanon escalated.

"We are the eyes and ears of the world to report on the facts of what is happening on the ground," he said.