Under what circumstances can Irish soldiers in Lebanon use force to defend themselves? [Video]

AS ISRAEL CONTINUES its ground incursion into South Lebanon they have been blamed by UNIFIL for targeting and injuring UN Peacekeepers. 

In the last three weeks more than 20 soldiers from UNIFIL have been injured either from fire or the actions of Israeli tanks or in artillery incidents.

Israeli tanks apparently used United Nations Post 6-52, occupied by Irish troops, as cover for operations against Hezbollah in nearby Maroun el Raz. 

In a separate incident at the weekend 15 Ghanaian soldiers were injured when IDF soldiers fired rounds that emitted smoke and caused “skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions”.

There has also been direct fire onto positions at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. 

There are 10,500 soldiers from 50 countries deployed in the UN peacekeeping mission – 350 of those are Irish Defence Forces personnel.

They are armed and have the right to defend themselves and the civilian population against hostile …