Secretary-General Deeply Saddened by Death of Peacekeeper in Lebanon

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the death of an Irish peacekeeper from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) who was killed in an incident that took place on 14 December in the area of Al-Aqbieh, outside UNIFIL’s area of operations in south Lebanon.  Three others were injured, of whom one remains in critical condition.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who died and to the people and the Government of Ireland.  He wishes a full and fast recovery for those injured.  He urges a swift investigation by relevant authorities to determine the facts related to the incident and the need for accountability.

The Secretary-General extends his deepest appreciation to all the men and women serving with UNIFIL, and he recalls the importance of ensuring their safety and security and UNIFIL’s freedom of movement.