The United Nations has complained to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) about a mortar attack on a village on Sunday in which two Irish soldiers were injured, writes Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent.
Cpl Noel Roche and Pte John Flaherty, both from Co Clare, were very lucky to have survived the attack with only minor injuries, it has emerged.
They were on observation duty on the flat roof of the building in Haddatah village that houses "B" Company of the Irish Battalion with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, when a mortar shell landed and exploded. It was one of nine mortars fired from a fortified compound of the South Lebanon Army (SLA), a mainly Christian militia controlled by the IDF, into the village. The SLA fired the mortars after Islamic militia associated with the Hezbullah political party in Lebanon opened fire on the SLA compound with rockets, anti-tank guns and heavy machine-guns on Sunday morning.
This outbreak of firing followed similar exchanges in the 10-sq km Irish Battalion area on Saturday, after the Hezbollah militia killed an SLA member and injured another in a roadside bomb attack near the village of Maj Dal Silm.
Cpl Roche and Pte Flaherty were both described as "comfortable" in hospital. The Irish Battalion yesterday said the area was "calm".