UN Irish peacekeeper killed in shooting in southern Lebanon

BEIRUT (AP) — An Irish U.N. peacekeeper was killed and several others were wounded when unidentified attackers opened fire on a convoy in southern Lebanon, Irish and Lebanese military officials said Thursday. The area is a stronghold of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group.

The Irish Defense Forces said in a statement that a pair of armored vehicles carrying eight Irish troops from the U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as UNIFIL, was fired on as they drove north, toward Beirut on Wednesday night near the town of Al-Aqbiya.

The Irish military identified the killed peacekeeper as Pvt. Seán Rooney of Newtowncunningham, Ireland. It noted that one of the three wounded soldiers was in serious condition. It did not identify the assailants.

UNIFIL confirmed that one peacekeeper was killed and three were wounded but did not share further details.

“Our thoughts are also with the local civilians who may have been injured or frightened during the incident,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said, adding that “details are sparse and conflicting.” Tenenti added that UNIFIL is coordinating with the Lebanese military and trying to “determine exactly what happened.”

A person familiar with the investigation said that the armored vehicle carrying the peacekeepers had rolled over while trying to escape the scene after locals began shooting.

Local residents were angered and became aggressive when two UNIFIL armored vehicles, which were heading to the Beirut airport, took a detour through Al-Aqbiya, which is not part of the area under UNIFIL’s mandate, the person said. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said seven bullets were...