Michael Smith TD, Met Lebanese defence minister this afternoon
The Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, has been meeting his Lebanese counterpart to protest at indiscriminate firing around the Irish area of operations in southern Lebanon. Mr Smith had earlier warned that he would review Ireland's peacekeeping role unless he received "solid assurances" that the shelling - by both Hezbollah guerrillas and by the Israeli backed South Lebanon army - stops. He arrived at the Irish Battalion Headquarters in Tibnin, this morning, following heavy exchanges of fire last night and again early today between the Israeli-backed South Lebanese Army and Hezbollah guerrillas.
Mr. Smith arrived in Beirut yesterday. He is due to visit Private Ronnie Rushe from County Offaly. Private Rushe is the Irish soldier who was critically injured by mortar fire last month.
