Defence Forces Chief of Staff says Israeli UNIFIL strike was 'not an accidental act'

The Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Séan Clancy has said that the Israeli strike which injured two peacekeepers in southern Lebanon was "not an accidental act".

The comments made by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff come after two peacekeeping troops were hospitalised following explosions at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, southern Lebanon on Friday.

The injured peacekeepers were not part of the Irish deployment.

Lieutenant General Clancy said that the Israeli military needs to be held accountable for their "reckless" actions, which he said "cannot be tolerated."

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He said: "From a military perspective this is not an accidental act. It is a direct act. Whether it's indiscipline or directed, either way it is not conscionable or allowable."

The Israeli Defence Forces, however, claim that they were targeting a nearby Hezbollah threat when they "inadvertently" injured the UNIFIL troops. 

Lieutenant General Clancy also said that the presence of Irish troops in the region is important in order to record what is happening in Lebanon, adding that this was not the case in Gaza. 

He affirmed that the Irish troops in Lebanon continue to be "strong and resolute".