Mideast situation/UNIFIL – SecGen report – Addendum

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON

(for the period 11 July 1986-11 January 1987)

Addendum

With reference to paragraph 19 of my report of 12 January 1987, the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of Israel communicated to me on 14 January the preliminary findings of the investigation promised by the Israeli authorities, in the following terms:

"Immediately following the tragic death of Corporal Dermot McLoughlin on 10 January 1987, the Israel Defense Force established an official Commission of Inquiry to investigate this tragic incident. A senior ranking officer in the IDF was appointed to head the Commission. In addition, the commanding officer of the Northern Sector is personally involved in the investigation.  He views the incident with the utmost gravity and is supervising the work of the Commission.

"The Commission's preliminary findings include the following points:

1. The UNIFIL post was misidentified as a terrorist position and was mistakenly fired upon by an IDF tank, leading to Corporal McLoughlin's tragic death.  An IDF soldier in the area conveyed to his commander that the target was a UNIFIL position, but the latter, new to the area and unfamiliar with the terrain, overruled his subordinate and gave the order to fire.

2. The officer who gave this order was immediately removed from his post.

3. New directives, designed to prevent the recurrence of such a tragic incident, have been issued to all IDF units in the area.

"Upon the completion of the Commission's investigation, a full report will be forwarded to you.

"The Government of Israel has conveyed its heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of the bereaved soldier and to the Government of Ireland."

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