The official spokesperson of UNIFIL, Andrea Tenenti, said: "The Lebanese military court has informed us that the accused arrested in the attack that led to the death of UNIFIL Blue Helmet Sean Rooney on December 14, 2022 and the injury of three other people has been released on bail due to the deterioration of his health condition, and that he must still appear before the court during the next session scheduled for December 15, 2023".

He added in a statement to the National News Agency: "UNIFIL continues to demand that the killers of Private Rooney be held accountable, and this attack, like all attacks on peacekeepers, is a crime under international law and Lebanese law".

He concluded: "The other individuals accused in the December 14 attack are still at large, and we continue to urge the Lebanese authorities to bring them to justice and to ensure that all those who participated in the death of Private Rooney are held accountable for their crimes".