First batch of Irish troops to depart for Syria
The first batch of soldiers from the 43rd Infantry Group of the Irish Defence Forces departs for Syria today.
Some 115 troops are being deployed to the Golan Heights, on the heavily militarised Syrian border, as part of a UN mission to keep the peace between Syria and Israel.
Ministerial Review and march past now complete , best of luck to the 43 Infantry Gp @unpeacekeeping #undof #Syria pic.twitter.com/3Ct4LkRVf8
— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) September 3, 2013
Their brief doesn’t include any involvement in the internal conflict currently raging in the war-torn country.
Defence Minister Alan Shatter yesterday reviewed the troops at Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin ahead of their gradual deployment to the Golan Heights throughout September.
He confirmed Defence Forces chief of staff Major General Conor O’Boyle had assured him the soldiers had undergone rigorous training and that extensive risk assessment had been carried out.
There have been international calls for US military action on President Bassar Assad’s regime following the use of chemical weapons in Damascus earlier this month.
Mr Shatter said a repeat of such an attack involving the 43rd Infantry was not expected.
“I’m not anticipating that that will happen,” he said said.
“We know a dreadful atrocity was committed in Syria. Different numbers are being given as to the number of people who died. It’s quite clear that hundreds of men, women and children have died in a chemical attack.”
The minister insisted the Irish peacekeepers’ role will be purely observational and that they will have no involvement in the civil war.
The troops have been training in the Glen of Imaal in Wicklow in advance of their deployment to the disputed border between Syria and Israel.
This has included rigorous drills on how to deal with a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incident.
The soldiers will serve as a mobile reserve for the UN disengagement observer force (Undof).
The operation is to maintain a demilitarised zone between areas controlled by Syria and Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur war.
The troops will be called in as reinforcements as well as taking part in regular patrols and escorts.
Ireland was asked for troops after Japan, Croatia and Austria withdrew soldiers amid concerns the Syrian civil war would spill into the Golan territories.
Shots were fired on Austrian soldiers back in June prompting their withdrawal, while Syrian officers travelling with the UN patrols have been abducted by rebels and executed.
Commanding officer of the 43rd Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Delaney confirmed his troops would be evacuated from the Golan Heights region in the event of a chemical attack.
