08/01/2008

Irish Troops Hurt As Lebanese Bomb Heralds Bush Visit

Tensions are being raised ahead of a US presidential visit to the Middle East tomorrow with news that Irish troops have had a lucky escape in a roadside bomb attack in Lebanon.

The two UN peacekeeping soldiers were slightly wounded when the bomb hit their vehicle in the south of the country on Tuesday.

The blast smashed the windows of a white UN four-wheel drive vehicle in the area of Rmaileh village, 35km south of Beirut and not far from the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp.

It was the third attack on the 13,500-strong UNIFIL force since it was expanded after a 34-day war ended in August 2006.

It occurred hours after Israel said two rockets fired from Lebanon overnight had exploded in the northern border village of Shlomi, causing no casualties.

Israel, which came under Hezbollah rocket barrages during the 2006 war, is on high alert ahead of a visit by US President George W Bush on Wednesday.

(BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 June 2013
Gardai Investigate Pipe Bomb Incident In Dublin
Gardai are currently investigating a pipe bomb incident in Dublin this morning. The bomb exploded on Apollo way at 12.30am in Coolock. No one was injured in the incident. Gardai are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.
13 March 2009
Garda Boss Pays Respects To North's Murdered Policeman
Ireland's most senior police officers have stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the funeral of murdered police constable Stephen Carroll (pictured). The sad event has taken place in Banbridge, Co Down today. Thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects to 48-year-old Mr Carroll, who was gunned down by the Continuity IRA.
14 March 2008
Petrol Bomb Attack On House In Derry
Police in Derry are investigating a petrol bomb attack on a house in the Moyne Avenue area of the city. The front of the house was damaged and a window was broken in the incident which happened at around 3am this morning. A couple were in the house at the time but no one was injured in the attack.