The Irish Government has issued a strong condemnation following the airstrike on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in southern Lebanon, an incident that has resulted in serious injuries to three Ghanaian peacekeepers.
Southern Lebanon has become an increasingly volatile theatre due to ongoing exchanges between the Israel Defence Forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
UNIFIL peacekeepers, including the Ghanaian contingent, operate in a buffer zone along the Israel–Lebanon border established under United Nations Security Council mandates to monitor ceasefire arrangements and prevent hostilities between the two sides.
In a statement released on 6th March 2026, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, Micheál Martin, highlighted the perilous conditions currently faced by international peacekeeping forces in the region.
While the attack caused significant harm to the Ghanaian contingent, the Taoiseach commended the swift and professional actions of fellow personnel who were stationed nearby and responded to the crisis.
“I strongly condemn the reckless strike on a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon that has left a number of Ghanaian peacekeepers seriously injured,” the Taoiseach stated.
He further added, “The role of peacekeepers is sacrosanct, and all should go above and beyond to prevent them from coming into harm’s way”.
This attack comes amid a period of heightened regional instability, with organisations like ECOWAS recently warning that the intensification of military action in the Middle East risks “widening instability” and threatening international peace.
Details of the attack
The attack, confirmed earlier by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), occurred on Friday evening when the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under two missile strikes between 17:45 and 17:52 local time in southern Lebanon.
According to the military statement issued from Burma Camp in Accra, two Ghanaian soldiers were critically injured, while another suffered trauma during the attack. The Officers’ Mess facility at the base was also hit and completely destroyed by fire.
The injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at a Level One Medical Bunker, while arrangements are underway to evacuate them to the UNIFIL headquarters referral hospital for further medical care.
The Ghana Armed Forces has assured the public that other troops remain safe and have taken shelter in underground bunkers amid the fragile security situation.
The incident comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate following the expanding confrontation involving Israel, Iran and allied forces across the region.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com