Irish peacekeeping soldier killed in Lebanon attack named

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “He previously served overseas with the 117 Infantry Battalion Unifil.” A convoy of two armoured vehicles en route to Beirut came under small arms fire at around 9.15pm Irish time on Wednesday night. “A life lost serving the people of Ireland, serving the United Nations, and serving all those wishing for peace in our shared world.” Irish premier Micheal Martin said: “It is with a deep sense of sadness and shock that I have learned of the death of one of our Unifil peacekeepers, and serious injuries to another, in an incident in Lebanon. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” Irish defence minister Simon Coveney said the soldier is “a young man who has lost his life in service of Ireland and of the UN”. “It’s just shocking, just before Christmas in particular, in terms of the time of year, but it’s shocking to ever lose somebody who is serving their country overseas as a peacekeeper.” Mr Coveney, who is currently in New York for a UN Security Council meeting, said he intends to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss a “full investigation” into the incident.