Lebanese Court Sentences Men in UN Peacekeeper’s Death

Sentences range from fines to prison time in case of Private Seán Rooney

A Lebanese military court has issued sentences to seven individuals charged in connection with the 2022 killing of Irish UN peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney. The proceedings concluded with varying penalties, including a death sentence in absentia.

Key Verdicts Delivered

Mohammad Ayyad received a death sentence pronounced in his absence. Meanwhile, Hussein Suleiman, Mustafa Suleiman, and Ali Hakim were ordered to pay fines between approximately $1,100 and $2,200. Ali Khalifeh was sentenced to one month in prison, and Ali Suleiman to three months. A seventh defendant, Mohammad Mezher, was acquitted of all charges.

Ayyad had been briefly detained in connection with the incident but was released on bail in November 2023, with his legal team presenting medical documents indicating he had cancer.

Background of the Tragic Incident

The fatal attack occurred on December 15, 2022, when the UN vehicle carrying 23-year-old Private Seán Rooney, a peacekeeper from County Donegal, was fired upon in southern Lebanon. This marked the first such lethal attack on UN peacekeepers in the region since 2015. The UNIFIL patrol was en route to Beirut airport when their convoy deviated into the town of Al-Aqbiya, an area outside their operational mandate.

Initial reports suggested the shooting stemmed from a confrontation with angry residents. However, the subsequent indictment concluded the incident was a premeditated assault, with several defendants allegedly linked to Hezbollah.

“Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon frequently accuse the UN mission of collusion with Israel.”

The Lebanese military tribunal formally charged seven individuals in January 2023. Court documents later identified some of the accused as members of Hezbollah. The charges encompassed murder and damaging UN property.

Lebanese officials stated that defendants in court claimed they noticed a vehicle moving suspiciously multiple times, leading a crowd to gather. They asserted they were unaware the vehicle belonged to UNIFIL. Hezbollah officials did not respond to requests for comment.

UNIFIL’s Role in Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces following Israel’s 1978 invasion. Its mission expanded after the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, enabling peacekeepers to patrol the Israeli border and support the Lebanese military’s authority in the south.

Hezbollah often criticizes UNIFIL for alleged collusion with Israel, while Israel has accused the peacekeepers of ignoring Hezbollah’s military activities. UNIFIL’s mandate is due for renewal next month. The force welcomed the trial’s conclusion, commending Lebanon’s commitment to justice.