Last night, Camp Shamrock, where numerous Irish peacekeepers are stationed in Lebanon, was hit by a rocket.The Chief of Staff for the Irish Defence Forces confirmed the event during a statement made in Athlone.Camp Shamrock serves as the base for hundreds of Irish peacekeepers.
In a statement, the Defence Forces reassured both the families of the peacekeepers and the public that extensive force protection measures are implemented at facilities in Lebanon.
“Our command staff is consistently monitoring the situation and carrying out a detailed assessment of the incident. We are collaborating closely with our international partners to gather further information and assess any potential risks going forward,” it stated.
“We acknowledge that this incident may raise concerns among the families of our deployed personnel. We wish to stress that the safety and wellbeing of our troops is our utmost priority,” it added.
The camp is located approximately 7km from the Israeli border and is in proximity to towns and villages that are controlled by or have sympathies with the militant group Hezbollah.
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Lieutenant General Sean Clancy stated: “Our assessment indicated that the rocket was traveling from north to south into Israel.”
“Many of these are undirected, unguided rockets, making them unpredictable; they have been known to be intercepted by the Iron Dome.”
“It landed in an unoccupied area of the camp and caused minimal, minimal damage on the ground.”
He assured that all Irish personnel are safe and unharmed.
The rocket involved was a Russian-made Katyusha rocket.
Taoiseach briefed on the incident
Taoiseach Simon Harris received updates throughout the night regarding the situation at Camp Shamrock.
In a statement, he expressed: “Thankfully, everyone is safe, but it is entirely unacceptable that this occurred.”
“Peacekeepers are safeguarded under international law, and it is the responsibility of all parties to ensure that protection. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
He continued, “This is an exceedingly serious situation.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin emphasized the critical need for a ceasefire.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin remarked that the incident highlights the dangers faced by Irish troops in a “very challenging environment.”
“That is why force protection is crucial,” he noted.
“We are advocating strongly for de-escalation in the region, which is absolutely vital for both the local population and the world at large.”
“We must prevent a conflict between Israel and Iran, as that could have grave repercussions globally,” he stated.
“The importance of all parties stepping back from the brink now and establishing a ceasefire while pursuing a peaceful resolution cannot be overstated.”
“We are very aware of the associated risks. Additionally, unlike Gaza, we have personnel on the ground in Lebanon to observe what is occurring.”
Satellite imagery revealing Israeli troops near an outpost manned by Irish peacekeepers.
Earlier this month, the commander of the Irish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon remarked that targeting and injuring United Nations soldiers is “totally unacceptable.”
A number of peacekeepers have sustained injuries since Israeli forces entered Lebanon, escalating conflict with Hezbollah.
At one point, Israeli soldiers positioned themselves near outpost UNP 6-52, which is staffed by 30 Irish troops close to the Israel-Lebanon border.
