A military court in Lebanon has formally charged five people over the killing of Irish peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney last year.

Pvt Rooney was killed in an ambush while travelling to Beirut with colleagues in Lebanon in December.

The 23-year-old was shot as he tried to drive his colleagues away from the armed group that has surrounded their armoured car.

Reuters reports that a Lebanese military tribunal has formally accused five members of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement of conducting a criminal act that led to Pvt Rooney's killing and to the attempted murder of three other soldiers.

One the accused people is currently detained, while four are still at large.

Seven people have previously been charged over the killing; however, this is the first time the court has identified the attackers as members of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.

Pvt Rooney was the first UN peacekeeper to be killed in Lebanon since 2015.