‘Timeline in place’ for Golan restructuring

Defence Minister Simon Coveney does not believe US president Barack Obama’s pronouncements on the Middle East should be a concern for Irish peacekeepers in the region.

Mr Coveney was responding to an address in which Mr Obama said the US would “degrade, and ultimately destroy”, the Islamic State network through increased military operation in Syria and Iraq.

Mr Coveney also confirmed that a timeline is in place for the restructuring of the UN Disengagement Observer Force operations in the Golan Heights buffer zone, and that he will decide on whether more Irish troops will be sent to the region by the end of the month.