IRISH UN troops in south Lebanon have been placed on alert after two of their patrols were confronted by armed members of the extreme Islamic organisation Hizbullah.
Shots were fired by the guerrillas who confronted Irish soldiers as they were transporting water but there were no injuries.
The Defence Forces yesterday reported that Irish Battalion vehicles were stopped by armed Hizbullah in two incidents yesterday morning. While there were no injuries, a radio set was seized and broken in the second of the incidents.
Irish troops have been ordered to "double up" when on patrol. It is the first time in several years that the troops have come under pressure from Hizbullah.
Tension has been rising in south Lebanon recently. Israeli jets bombed a village outside the Irish area last week after Hizbullah members killed three of its soldiers in the Israeli occupied area of south Lebanon.
Hizbullah has accused the UN of selling vehicles to the Israelis. Recently the UN in Golan sold five old water lorries to an Israeli scrap dealer.
Meanwhile, two Austrian soldiers serving with the UN were shot dead yesterday while on foot patrol in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.