Irish Peacekeeper Killed In Ambush

An Irish peacekeeper has been killed in an ambush in Lebanon, reports the Irish Times.

On Wednesday night, militants stopped two U.N. vehicles at a roadblock. The two vehicles became separated and one surrounded by a hostile mob, said Irish Foreign and Defense Minister Simon Coveney, as quoted by Reuters.

Shots were fired and one peacekeeper was killed. A second Irish soldier was in critical condition.

Two more Irish soldiers suffered minor injuries when their vehicle overturned.

The incident took place in Hezbollah-controlled territory during a routine administrative run between their base and Beirut, Coveney said.

Hezbollah later said that it was not involved in the incident.

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it had launched an investigation.