Irish UN Peacekeeper Killed in Hezbollah-Held Lebanon
Private Rooney Shot Dead in UN Convoy Attack
Private Rooney, just 23 and from Ireland, was fatally shot on December 14 while serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The tragic attack occurred near Al-Aqbiya, a village deep in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold backed by Iran.
The UN vehicle carrying Rooney and his comrades came under heavy fire, suffering seven bullet hits. One of the bullets struck the driver, sources revealed.
Trooper Shane Kearney Injured, Back Home for Treatment
Another 23-year-old Irish soldier, Trooper Shane Kearney, was wounded in the assault. He sustained blunt force trauma to the head and has since returned to Ireland for medical care.
Investigations Launched, Suspects Charged
UNIFIL has demanded a swift probe from Beirut, marking the first violent incident against its peacekeepers in nearly eight years. Lebanon’s military intelligence leads the inquiry, with Hezbollah reportedly cooperating.
So far, only one suspect is in custody. This individual was handed over to the army last month and now faces charges for killing Rooney and attempting to murder three others using a machine gun.
Meanwhile, six more fugitives have been charged for firing illegal weapons, destroying the UN vehicle, and intimidating passengers, according to an anonymous official.
UNIFIL’s Long-Standing Mission
Since 1978, the 10,000-strong UNIFIL peacekeeping force has acted as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel, a region still technically at war. This latest attack shakes what has been a relatively stable mission area for years.
