In the early hours of Wednesday, 5 February 2014 one UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization) Military Observer from Austria died after falling from a balcony of a building in the city of Tyr, where he was residing. He was immediately taken to Jabel Amel hospital where he was pronounced dead. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation in close cooperation with the Lebanese authorities.

The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major-General Paolo Serra and UNTSO Chief of Staff Major-General Michael Finn expressed their deepest condolences to the Austrian Government and to the family of the Military Observer. He was a well respected and dedicated peacekeeper actively working in supporting UNIFIL's mandate under Security Council resolution 1701.

Major-General Serra and Major-General Finn extended special appreciation to the Lebanese Army and the local authorities for their support in assisting UNIFIL and UNTSO after this tragic event.