Lebanese Military Court Accuses Five Hezbollah and Amal Members of Killing Irish Peacekeeper

A senior judicial source in Lebanon said on Thursday that a Lebanese military court has charged five members of Hezbollah and the Amal movement with the murder of a United Nations peacekeeper from Ireland in 2022. According to Reuters, these five are among seven defendants previously charged by the Lebanese judiciary in January of this year. However, a new military court document presented on Thursday identifies some of them as members of Hezbollah. Hezbollah, supported by the Islamic Republic, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. Hezbollah, led by Hassan Nasrallah, and Amal, led by Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, refrained from immediate comment on these accusations. A spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told Reuters, "This is an important step towards justice, and we continue to demand accountability from all perpetrators." A judicial source told Reuters that the military court judge charged the five with committing a criminal act that led to the murder of the Irish peacekeeper and an attempt to kill three other soldiers. This source stated that the charges carry the death penalty and added that the document referenced evidence showing that the defendants identified themselves as members of Hezbollah in recorded camera footage. The Lebanese army arrested one of the suspects in late 2022 in connection with this case and on charges of murder. This individual was identified at that time as a supporter of Hezbollah. Six other suspects face charges ranging from attempted murder to damaging vehicles. None of them are in custody. The United States has sanctioned five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in connection with a "plot to assassinate" outside of Iran. The U.S. has also sanctioned two Syrian companies related to transferring money to the Quds Force and Hezbollah. Additionally, the U.S. has seized 13 internet domains used by Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ibrahim Raisi's visit to Damascus aims to expand relations with Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon.