An Irish Soldier was killed in an attack on his armored column in Lebanon last night while driving to Beirut on UN peacekeeping duty. Three more were injured in the same attack.

UN Peacekeeping troops en-route to the airport in Beirut were surrounded and attacked by gunmen after their route to the airport in Beirut changed. One Soldier, 23-year-old Pte Seán Rooney succumbed to his injuries at the hospital near Sidon and 22-year-old Pte Shane Kearney is listed as currently in critical condition after he required life-saving surgery. Two other Irish Soldiers were also wounded during the attack.

According to early reports, the troops were escorting two Soldiers back to the airport for bereavement leave. They were members of the 121st Infantry Battalion, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). The UN is currently laying the blame for the attack on the shoulder of Hezbollah. Hezbollah is denying involvement stating that the shooting stemmed from an escalation in violence after a car accident with civilian traffic.