O'Dea visits Irish troops in Lebanon

Minsiter for Defence Willie O'Dea is travelling to Lebanon today to assess the situation facing Irish peacekeepers in the volatile south of the country.

Mr O'Dea's visit comes amid rumours that the region is becoming more unstable since the peace deal that ended Israel's attack on the country last year.

The minister will be meeting his Lebanese counterpart to get clarification on the political situation and the progress being made in the Lebanese government's moves to retake control in the south of the country from the Hezbollah movement.

More than 150 Irish peacekeepers were deployed in the area last year as part of a UN mission to help the Lebanese army achieve this objective.