Lebanon's Military Tribunal Shocks by Releasing Accused Killer of Irish Peacekeeper on Bail, UN Expresses Concern

 In a surprising development, Lebanon's military tribunal has released a man accused of killing an Irish United Nations peacekeeper on bail, according to security and judicial officials. The accused, Mohamad Ayyad, was charged along with four others in June with the killing of Pvt. Seán Rooney. The incident took place almost a year ago, on December 14, 2022. Ayyad was detained in December 2022, while the other four individuals remain at large. The released accused are allegedly linked with Hezbollah, although the militant group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing. In response to Ayyad's release, UNIFIL, the UN's peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, has expressed concern about his deteriorating health.

Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for UNIFIL, stated that they are working to confirm this information with the military court and emphasized the need for accountability and justice for Rooney and his family. Two Lebanese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Ayyad's release on bail, which was set at 1.2 billion Lebanese pounds (approximately $13,377). They stated that Ayyad's release was due to unspecified health concerns, but emphasized that the trial is still ongoing and the accused would be sent to jail if convicted and sentenced.

The incident in question occurred when Rooney and several other Irish soldiers from UNIFIL were traveling from their base in southern Lebanon to the Beirut airport. Two UN vehicles reportedly took a detour through Al-Aqbiya, an area outside their mandate. Initial reports suggested that angry residents confronted the peacekeepers, but the indictment concluded that the shooting was a targeted attack. The peacekeeper vehicle was surrounded by armed men and vehicles after taking a wrong turn and trying to make their way back to the main road.

The Irish military, as of now, has not commented on Ayyad's release. UNIFIL was established to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after a 1978 invasion by Israel. The mission expanded following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border to support the Lebanese military in extending its authority in the region.

Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon have frequently accused the UN mission of collusion with Israel, while Israel has accused the peacekeepers of turning a blind eye to Hezbollah's activities in southern Lebanon. Amid ongoing clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops along the border, this development raises further questions about the pursuit of justice in the region.