Frontline troops battle to keep the peace in Lebanon
Defence Forces are patrolling fields packed with landmines and searching for Hezbollah rockets and arms dumps. Two Irish military posts on the ‘Blue Line’ peace boundary between Lebanon and Israel act as a buffer between parts of the two nations.
Having re-taken control of the posts near militant Hezbollah-controlled towns in recent weeks, Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon soldiers are aware how quickly the calmness in the surrounding fields can change to all-out fighting.
Close to the villages of Marun Ar Ras and Aytarun along the contentious divide, post commander Captain Tom Mulderrig, is in charge of 28 troops.
“I’m sure the same as we’re observing [the Israelis] on the Blue Line, that they’re doing the exact same thing on the other side,” he said.
Soldiers patrol the Lebanese side, searching for arms. They also monitor the Israeli forces across the boundary. The Mayo soldier, 28, added: “The obvious things we’re looking for are armed elements in the area and places where weapons or ammunition might be stored, or bunkers or caches of weapons.
“The area is so sensitive. The slightest thing can spark something off.”
Irish troops at the ‘6-52’ frontline post also patrol with the Lebanese army, looking for militant movements and talking with village leaders about security concerns.
Soldiers are stationed here for three weeks at a time and can see their Israeli counterparts’ military compounds just a few dozen metres away.
Fields filled with landmines, electrified fences and crops lie in between.
Close to the Irish military compound lies a monument for several Palestinian refugees killed by Israeli soldiers in May while marching on the border.
Irish soldiers in post 6-50, further west, are even closer to the boundary and within earshot of the Israelis.
Irish soldiers at this post are even warned that their mobile phone texts and calls can be monitored by the Israelis.
Irish Mowag-armoured personnel carriers patrol the Blue Line divide on a daily basis, climbing the dusty, mined hills.
Private Jayne Conway, 22, is the first Irish female combat soldier to serve at the frontline posts in Lebanon.
“It’s a great experience. It gets tough. The lads here are great and we all just stick together,” the Kildare-born infantry soldier said.
A ceremony to mark the post handover from French troops to the Irish was held yesterday.
Irish soldiers are in charge of patrolling 11.3kms of the Blue Line, which lies 15km south of their base, Camp Shamrock, in Tibnin, south Lebanon.
In total, the 440-strong Irish mission oversees peacekeeping across some 140sq km, from the town of Tibnin to the Blue Line at the very south.
