Unifil

Defence Forces involvement in Undof mission in Syria likely to come to an end

Soldier was injured during convoy attack that killed Pte Seán Rooney in Lebanon

Tánaiste Micheál Martin visits Irish troops serving with Unifil as part of official visit to Lebanon

Suspect handed over to Lebanese investigators is a supporter of Hizbullah “but not a member”

Hizbullah says man detained is a supporter of the militia, but not a member

Mandate was renewed and slightly amended in August, authorising Unifil ‘to conduct its operations independently’

Country’s ambassador to Ireland tells Micheál Martin and soldier’s family ‘Seán’s sacrifice will not be in vain’

The tragic death of Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon last week marks the first Irish peacekeeper death in combat in the region since 1999. The 23 year old was a member of the UN's 10,000-strong mission, Unifil. It's understood the vehicle became surrounded by an angry mob near the coastal down of Al Aqbieh on the night of Wednesday, 14th December. But why would the UN vehicle be the target of such ire? And what has caused the ratcheting up of tension in the Hizbullah-controlled in the region? Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher, and retired Lieutenant Colonel and military historian, Dan Harvey, frame the conflict and analyse the threat on this episode of In The News.

Danny Boy and The Sally Gardens floated in the air at Pte Rooney’s Dundalk farewell

Body of peacekeeper (24) killed while working on UN mission in Lebanon arrived back in Ireland on Monday

Trooper Shane Kearney remains in serious condition in Lebanese hospital

An Irish Air Corps plane is due to fly home the soldier’s remains from Beirut airport following a short ceremony

A team of eight Defence Forces personnel is on its way to Lebanon to help determine how Pte Seán Rooney died

Irish troops are operating in increasingly constrained conditions among a suspicious population