Yesterday’s Irish Examiner editorial, ‘A Sobering Lesson for Israel’, was one of the most unbalanced and ill-informed commentaries I have read. You blame Israel for alienating its allies, but give no sensible explanation of why.

What happens to a man alleged to be a suspect in the torture and killing of two Irish UN peacekeepers is a matter for American authorities, the Department of Defence has stated.

The daughter of one of two Irish soldiers who was tortured and killed while on UN peacekeeping duty says she hopes their alleged murderer will soon stand trial.

A Cork woman whose father was killed in a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon in 1980 said the arrest of his accused killer in the US is the first step toward justice.

Rockets fired from Lebanon have struck Israel as long-range missile fire from Gaza continued against the country for a fourth day.

Gary White felt wanted. An email from Jason Ryan last October to Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon where he was stationed on United Nations and he was sold.

If Enda Kenny was feeling the heat he did not show it as he swirled into southern Lebanon — which is more than could be said for three of the soldiers in the honour guard waiting to be inspected who passed out in the sweltering 34C heat as the Taoiseach arrived.

Enda Kenny has refused to comment on allegations by a minister that the Taoiseach effectively misled the Dáil.

Israeli war planes have unleashed airstrikes against Syrian army targets in response to a roadside bombing in the Golan Heights that wounded four soldiers.

With the US, the long-time global leader, seemingly weakened in recent times, the radical axis of Syria, Iran, and the Hezbollah may look to take advantage next year, writes Ehud Barak

An Israeli soldier has been killed by a Lebanese army sniper as he drove along the border, the Israeli military said, drawing threats of retaliation.

A father and son are among the latest Irish troops being despatched to a United Nations peace-keeping mission in the Middle East.

A powerful car bomb that tore through a busy area of Beirut has killed at least 18 people in the bloodiest attack yet on Lebanese civilians linked to Syria’s civil war.

The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah has warned that the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s regime would give rise to extremists and plunge the Middle East into a “dark period”.

A Palestinian protester in Gaza has reportedly died from Israeli army gunfire as thousands took part in an annual protest against Israeli land policy.

Israeli security forces in riot gear have confronted Palestinian demonstrators along Israel’s frontiers on an annual protest day.

Iran will help any nation or group that confronts the "cancer" Israel, the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said.

There was a systemic failure to respond to the threats facing peacekeeping personnel, a new report into the deaths of three Irish soldiers in Lebanon has stated.

Members of the defence forces have been deployed to south Lebanon to quell tensions. While their commander attests to their readiness for the mission, if violence escalates it could prevent a visit by President McAleese, writes Political Reporter Juno McEnroe in Tibnin.

THE BIG READ: Conor Ryan

WHEN someone is asked to face danger, to risk injury or death, on behalf of the state then they should have every support the state can give them to minimise the risk involved.

Hundreds of Irish soldiers are to be deployed to a peace-keeping mission in Lebanon in the new year, it was announced today.

The UN’s special co-ordinator for Lebanon said he plans to visit Israel next week with the UN commander in southern Lebanon to discuss Israel’s decision “in principle” to pull troops out of the northern half of a village that straddles the border.

Israel agreed today to pull its troops out of the northern half of a village which straddles the border with Lebanon, defusing a long-standing political dispute but frightening villagers who do not want their community divided.

The US government has warned Iran and Syria that America’s commitment to Israel’s security was unshakeable and they should understand the consequences of threats to the Jewish state.

DURING a visit to Beirut, the author reluctantly agrees to write her mother, Kamila’s life story. There is caution and uncertainty between mother and daughter. The reasons for this become obvious as Kamila’s story unfolds.

COME back Irish soldiers — we miss you.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin leaves today for a week-long visit to the Middle East and Gulf region.

Israel faced attack on a second front today when at least three rockets were fired into the country from Lebanon.

A Fine Gael Bill seeking a global ban on cluster bombs will be voted upon on in the Dáil later.

One of the world's most-wanted terrorists has been killed in a car bomb explosion in the Syrian capital Damascus.

THE 24-year deployment of Irish troops in Lebanon comes to a close today as defence force members serving with the remaining UN peacekeeping soldiers in the war-torn country stand down.

Palestinian militants fired a Russian-made rocket into southern Israel today, police said, signalling a possible escalation by armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

Britain today welcomed the appointment of a new top United Nations envoy to Iraq.

Lebanese soldiers fanned out along the Mediterranean coastline in northern Lebanon today, hunting for fugitives a day after the army crushed the remnants of a militant group and ended a three-month siege at a Palestinian refugee camp.

A bloody three-month siege at a Palestinian refugee camp ended in a ferocious gunbattle with 39 al-Qaida inspired militants killed, 20 captured and three Lebanese soldiers dead on Sunday.

A car bomb explosion killed six UN peacekeepers patrolling a southern Lebanon road in an attack that could have serious repercussions beyond Lebanon’s borders.

FIVE Spanish UN peacekeepers were killed yesterday and at least three wounded in an explosion targeting UN troops in southern Lebanon, a senior Lebanese security official said.

A car bomb explosion killed six UN peacekeepers patrolling a southern Lebanon road today in an attack that could have serious repercussions beyond Lebanon’s borders.

Four Spanish UN peacekeepers were killed today and four others wounded in an explosion targeting UN troops in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s defence minister declared victory over the Fatah Islam militant group, saying it had been crushed after a month-long military assault on its stronghold in a northern refugee camp.