Hezbollah Hands Over Suspect in U.N. Peacekeeper Killing

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — Hezbollah has handed over a man suspected of killing an Irish United Nations peacekeeper in southern Lebanon earlier this month, AFP reported, citing a security official.

Pvt. Sean Rooney, 23, was killed and three others injured on December 14 when their U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) vehicle was attacked near the village of Al-Aqbiya, a stronghold of the Iran-backed terror group. The incident was reportedly prompted by anger over the presence of U.N. forces in an area they usually avoid.

UNIFIL acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates near the border.

“The main shooter has been arrested by security forces after Hezbollah handed him over hours ago,” the security official said on Sunday, declining to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

It was not immediately clear if the individual arrested is a member of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is cooperating in the probe led by Lebanese military intelligence, the official said, adding that “preliminary investigations are nearly complete.”