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Irish officer 'warned Israel six times before UN base was hit'
Dublin (AFP) Jul 26, 2006 Ireland's most senior army officer in Lebanon contacted the Israelis six times to warn them about shelling and bombing close to UN positions prior to the fatal air strike on the UN observer base, Irish Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said Wednesday. O'Dea told RTE state radio that Israel's actions, which led to the deaths Tuesday of four United Nations observers, were "grossly reckless at a minimum" as he wondered aloud whether it had deliberately targeted the base. Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern and O'Dea earlier summoned the Israeli ambassador Daniel Megiddo to express their concerns about the incident and the fact that the Irish officer's warnings were ignored. "The ambassador said it was an accident, that it was a war zone," a defence ministry spokeswoman told AFP. "After the 45-minute meeting the ambassador said he was conveying the Irish position and feelings to his own government." O'Dea had met the commander of Ireland's Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Jim Sreenan, and had also spoken by telephone to the most senior army officer in Lebanon, Lieutenant Colonel John Molloy. O'Dea said Molloy had told him that he had personally given six "very specific, very detailed" warnings to the Israelis. "Obviously they weren't taken on board. Even after the hit had taken place a number of Indian soldiers who went to rescue the dying and the injured were also fired upon. "At the very minimum I would have to describe the actions of the Israeli army as grossly reckless at a minimum," O'Dea said. "I can't say for definite whether there was deliberate targeting but if it was an accident, it was a most extraordinary accident." O'Dea said that it was just a matter of rostering that had meant that the casualties at the base did not include Irish officers. "I am informed that the Irish officers were there up to about 36 hours ago. I am extremely concerned about that," he told RTE. O'Dea said there was a 100 percent probability that Ireland would be asked to contribute to any UN stablisation force for Lebanon. "We would be in a position to contribute. I don't want to pre-empt the decision the government will take, but one of the main criteria we look at when we are asked to participate in any international peace-keeping tour is the safety of our personnel. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Nuclear Space Technology at Space-Travel.com
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 21
Gaza City (AFP) Jul 26, 2006 Twenty-one Palestinians, including a baby and two toddlers, were killed Wednesday as Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and artillery on the deadliest day in the territory for two weeks. |
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