Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, arrived on Monday at the headquarters of the Irish UNIFIL battalion in the southern Lebanese town of Al-Tiri - Bint Jbeil district, to offer condolences. 

Sleem also held a meeting with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Aroldo Lazaro, and Irish battalion Commander and officers, in the presence of Irish Ambassador to Egypt and Lebanon, Nuala O'Brien. 

“Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and the security services are aptly performing their role,” Sleem said, hoping that investigations will end by determining who is responsible for the killing of one Irish peacekeeper and the wounding of three others “to be held accountable.”

Sleem earlier checked on the wounded Irish peacekeepers and was reassured about their health status. 

During the visit, the Minister of Defense described the existing relationship between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army as that of “cooperation”. 

“UNIFIL plays a very important role in preserving stability and calm in south Lebanon; cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army continues in all fields to preserve this stability,” he added. 

“The relationship between UNIFIL and locals is decades-old and characterized by trust, friendship, love and cooperation; there are no negative feelings between them. This trust between the two parties will continue to be stronger, because the locals of southern villages are well aware that the presence of international forces in the south perform a good and positive role that falls in the country’s best interest,” Sleem explained.