150 Irish troops get green light for Lebanon

THE Government has formally sanctioned a 150-strong Irish force to Lebanon, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea announced yesterday.

Mr O’Dea said the security situation in Lebanon was “stable, but volatile” and that neither Israel nor Hezbollah were eager to resume hostilities.

However, he said there was a possible threat posed by al-Qaida, whose second- in-command reportedly described the UN force, UNIFIL, as “enemies of Islam”.