Irish peacekeepers coming under fire from Israeli troops has been described as “utterly reckless” by the Tánaiste. 

Six Irish soldiers in question had only been in the Middle East for a few weeks as part of a deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

They were out on patrol in Southern Lebanon with colleagues in the Lebanese Army and were assisting them in the reconstruction of a farm house. 

While that work was underway, Israeli defence vehicles approached and several dozen shots were fired at the vicinity of the Irish soldiers.

On The Pat Kenny Show, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris rejected the use of the phrase 'warning shots' to describe the incident.

"What are they warning them of?" he said.

"In my view it's intimidatory action by the Israeli Defence Forces."

He continued that it was "utterly reckless" and "utterly unacceptable".

"[It] is a clear breach of the international rules around peacekeeping," he said.

"Immediately, Óglaigh na hÉireann through our local commanders would have convened their protest and today, more formally, we will seek through the UN structures a demarche where we will record with the Israeli authorities our concern."

There are currently 308 Irish troops in Lebanon and all are currently safe.

I have been briefed on today’s deeply concerning incident in Southern Lebanon, where Irish peacekeepers came under fire near the Blue Line.

I can confirm that all our personnel are safe.

On International #PKDay, this incident once again highlights the dangers our troops face. pic.twitter.com/RDfNrZxvkI

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 29, 2025

On Newstalk Breakfast, former Army Ranger commander Cathal Berry said it was a "very unwelcome development and something to be concerned about". 

“But the fact that no vehicles were hit, the fact there were no casualties and the fact that the Irish patrol commander did not see fit to return fire would indicate that this was at the lower end of the scale really," he said. 

“But certainly unwelcome.”

Mr Berry continued that the Israelis most likely had a “very young, probably low level” who felt nervous at the sight of foreign soldiers. 

“[He] sees a patrol coming towards him and just does not want the patrol to approach - even though they’re quite entitled to approach,” he said. 

“And fires containing shots about 40, 50 yards to signal, ‘Don’t come any closer.’

“That’s the most likely scenario.” 

Ireland-Israel relations

On the question of Dublin’s relationship with Israel, Mr Berry said it is important to note that “not everyone is aligned with Ireland’s position” in the EU. 

“We also need to use the telephone and work the heads of state and the heads of government around the European Union and try to get them more aligned with the Irish position,” he said. 

A review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement is currently underway.

Main image: A split of Simon Harris and An Irish Defence Forces arm patch of a soldier. Pictures by: Rolling News.ie and Alamy Stock Photo.