The two Irish soldiers injured in a roadside bomb in south Lebanon yesterday are said to be recovering well in hospital today.
Regimental Sergeant Major John McCormack (49) and Company Sergeant David Williams (48), both from Dublin, were serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) when their vehicle was hit by a blast near the village of Ramiliya, about 35 kilometres south of Beirut.
Both suffered minor injuries and were brought to the nearby Hammoud Hospital by Lebanese Armed Forces.
A Defence Forces statement said the men were in "good spirits" and had spoken to their families last night.
While the Unifil investigation has yet to be concluded, the Defence Forces said initial indications are that the explosion was caused by a remotely detonated roadside bomb on a route travelled frequently by UN vehicles.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern yesterday paid tribute to the soldiers and condemned the attack.