Ireland's Helen McEntee visits Lebanon and UNIFIL mission

Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is conducting a diplomatic visit to Lebanon from October 25th to 27th. The mission includes engagements with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and meetings with Lebanese government officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Foreign Affairs Minister Youssef Rajji, and Justice Minister Adel Nassar.

During the visit, McEntee will meet with members of the 128th Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock in South Lebanon. A key focus of the trip is to discuss regional security, Ireland’s long-standing peacekeeping role, and the future of Irish involvement in the UN mission, which has included Irish Defence Forces personnel since 1978.

McEntee is also expected to raise the death of Private Seán Rooney, a 24-year-old Irish soldier killed in December 2022 during an ambush near Al-Aqbiya. The Minister will reiterate Ireland’s calls for accountability and justice regarding the incident and emphasize the importance of cooperation between Irish and Lebanese authorities in the ongoing judicial process.